How Often Should You Feed Your Flock?

[Jasmine1998]

You said in another post people would call you a know it all American, so I am assuming you are from America....

"Guinea Pigs Are Huge Here. They Raise Them To Eat. It Is The Most Expensive Thing In Restaurants Here ( About 12 Bucks For A Meal) Compare That To A Filet Mignon That Costs 6 Bucks!!! It Is Very Strange Here On Some Things."

^^^Just curious, but where in America is it huge to eat Guinea Pigs? I have never heard of that before....

 

[peach2727]

I Am From Massachusetts.

I Am Currently In The Andes Mountains Of Ecuador.

Here In Ecuador, Guinea Pigs Are A Big Item On The Menu.

 

[Akane]

There is a big difference between doing the absolute best for the animal and doing the best for a business or to make profit. Chickens do best free feeding. Is that the most cost effective? No. They will waste a little feed but they will not harm themselves doing it. You can harm them trying to feed them all the exact same amount. 1 chicken might need 100 grams and another might need 150. Different breeds and different animals have different needs. We don't feed our horses all the same amount of hay and grain over winter despite them all being the same size. They were bred for different things and some burn more energy than others. My reining mare gets fat on hay and grass while my barrel mare couldn't keep weight on no matter how much you supplemented her. Those are even horses within the same breed. Chickens are the same. A chicken from lines used in commercial operations is not the same as typical hatchery stock and those are not the same as chickens from small breeders. Even if we are talking about the exact same breed of chicken. Whether your particular chickens do best on 100-110 grams of feed depends on if you have the same type (not just the same breed) of chicken as whatever resource you are using. If you have an entirely different breed then those numbers could be way off. A chicken will know what it needs and will eat what it needs without you having to do any work. They will keep themselves healthy but you might spend a little more on feed than if you restricted them to just what keeps them laying instead of all that they need.

 

[cubalaya]

i have found that chickens will overeat if too much food is offered. chicks should always have access to food but laying hens and roosters get pellets once a day in the morning and freerange for a few hours in the evening

 

[peach2727]

You say one chicken might need 100 grams and another 150 but won't that take care of itself ?

We put out in the feeders 40 KG of food which equals an average of 100 grams per animal.

Won't the ones that need more eat more and the ones that need less eat less??

There is always food left there for hours so every chicken has its turn.

I just have one question that nobody has answered yet.

If I do it my way, how many times a day do you advise to feed them. That is , split my 40KG up and feed them multiple times

throughout the day?

Is all in the morning OK?

Or split in half and do a morning feeding and a supper feeding?

Please advise. Thanks

 

[peach2727]

Cubalaya,


YOU SEEM TO BE IN THE MINORITY HERE AS EVERYONE IS TELLING ME EGG LAYERS WILL NOT OVER EAT.

THE VETS HERE AGREE WITH YOU.

 

[rhodewarrior]

I would start by splitting it up and then work from there. If its working for you and your hens...then go for it, if not change it up until it works. Just an idea...

 

[cubalaya]

i am no vet but it has worked for me about 30 years.

 

[Pine Grove]

I't works for me also..

 

[peach2727]

Thanks For The Input Cubalaya,

I Lived In Glen Allen Right Outside Of Richmond For A Year Before Moving Here In Ecuador.

Close To You?