How Often Should You Feed Your Flock?

[BarredBuff]

They have free choice feed plus free range and scratch in the morning.

 

[cubalaya]

Quote:
we are about an hour west of glen allen but know quite a few people there.

 

[pixie74943]

Peaches... why are you asking the question if you arent going to listen to the answer???

My chickens also free feed and they eat substantially less than 100g a day. They free range (as much free-ranging as a backyard can offer) as often as they can, and are given meat and vegie scraps everyday. The only time I see them eat from or even go near their feeders is when they fill up before bedtime.

It may be that when you calculate your birds overeating when free feeding is because they expect the food to be taken away, and therefore gorge themselves while they have the chance. If given the chance to free feed for 2 or 3 weeks they mey learn that the food is not going to disappear, and therefore they can take their time eating only what they need.

 

[peach2727]

Pixie,

I Am Listening To All Of The Answers.

It Appears That There Are Different Opinions On This Matter.

Read All Of The Blogs.

Some People Say Egg Layers Will Over Eat, Some Say They Will Not.

I Was Hoping Everyone Would Concur. That Is Not The Case.

I Appreciate Everyone's Input. I Am An Amateur At This And Love To Hear Each Person's Opinion And Experience.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Quote:
Right, same with me & my flock. They don't gorge, they are choosy, picking out the best seeds or grains first, then eating the regular feed at their leisure. Seems like scratching and munching is their major motivation for activity.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Quote:

exactly!

That is hilarious yet so true

Ours free range all day sun up to sun down 4 days a week, and from 4pm to sundown the other 3. For our flock We go through one 50 pound bag of layena about every two weeks & you can tell by my sig that we have quite a few birds! lol Ours don't overengourge themselves either! But we give them fresh fruits & veges every afternoon, feed once at night, free range during the day, and every other day they get all the weeds from my garden!

 

[DTRM30]

Probably not much help - but I've never restricted what mine eat - and they don't overeat. All are a healthy weight for their particular breed - and I only fill the feeder once every other day - sometimes once every third day depending on how much they've been free-ranging during the day. They don't eat it all in one day so I guess that would mean they are not gorging themselves and overeating.
Seems like the general opinion is to allow them to free feed. If your vet says different, and it's profit that is driving how much feed you purchase - I guess it's going to be a trial and error to find out what works best. One feeding vs. staggered feedings.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Peach, I'd say if you are going to limit their feed and only feed them a set amount I'd go with a morning feeding, and another in the evening with your other veggies fed as treats in between.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I raise a considerable number of chickens. I sell lots of chicks and eggs.

I can only tell you what happens here.

I have certain pens that are free fed and a few pens that I feed once a day.
In the free fed pens, my egg production will drop drastically if their feeders go empty for any length of time. I have approx. 85 - 90% of the hens laying every day.

In the pens that I feed once a day, the egg production is a lot lower than the free fed pens, but the chickens also still maintain a good weight, are active and healthy. The hens in these pens have an approx. 65 - 70% laying ratio per day.

So, with my chickens, I get more eggs if they are free fed. They do consume a little more feed, but I feel that the increased egg production is worth it.

If you choose to not free feed, I would think it would be better to feed several meals a day, instead of one. Do you have things in their runs to entertain them between feedings?
Mine love to pick through alfalfa hay, and I sometimes throw in some horse manure for them to scratch through.
I also feed a pellet instead of a crumble. I have a lot less waste with pellets, which means less feed.

You will just have to decide what will work in your area. If your hens are producing well enough with you feeding a ration, then stick with it. If you do not have at least 80% of your hens laying every day, I would increase the feed a little at a time and see if that helps.
I have noticed here, that any changes I make, it takes at least 3 weeks to see any differences.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you are doing and how it is working for you.

Jean

 

[halfpint512]

I would suggest that maybe they overeat as they know the food leaves? I even throw out kitchen scraps, and they will attack it at first, but eventually will walk away if they get full only to come back a while later and eat some more....etc. I have never seen mine overeat, but always they will walk away from a lot of scraps and eat it over time.