How often will I have to buy food for 5 hens?

[Back2MyRoots]

I have 2 runs: one for the layers and one for the toddlers (about 12 weeks old)

There are 9 layers and 9 babies. The layers go through 50 lbs of feed and 25 lbs of scratch in about 3 months. Though my girls free-range every day except Sunday, get a cup of yogurt or cottage cheese everyday and lots of kitchen and garden scraps.

The toddlers on the other hand get lots of kitchen and garden scraps and some scratch, have a large grassy run that we move once a week and they run through 50 lbs of feed in about 5 to 6 weeks. The toddlers are going through that weird phase where they are visibly bigger every day, so I am sure that is why they are burning through feed so fast.

At any rate, I think feed consumption is varried between flocks. But IMO, a diverse diet helps keep feed cost down and makes for happy hens. Happy hens make better/more eggs.

 

[Greasydog26]

In the past, we never had to worry about animal protein because feed makers just routinely included it. Over the past few years, the move has been toward purely vegetable protein in chicken feed. I'm simply not a fan.

The old wives tale about birds needing corn in the winter to "warm them up" is largely a myth. Corn is a carb and produces energy. Protein is likely far more important to inner body temperature than carbs. In fact, too high a protein feed in the summer isn't indicated. Protein in the cooler/colder months is indicated. If the feed does not have adequate animal protein or no animal protein at all, it is my experience that the birds consume much more feed, seeking both the protein and the heat generating capacity required during the colder months.

I've found that when raising out chicks that a Gamebird formula, with 24% protein, largely built on animal protein (3rd ingredient in the bag tag) results in far less total feed consumed. A high animal protein feed base also allows for room in the diet for more whole or cracked grains and alfalfa meal, thus off setting the expense of the Gamebird feed. If that all seems too fussy, then feeding a layer formula of 16% protein is fine, if that protein is largely made up of animal sources.

Just my $.02. Hope it helps.

Thanks or your help!!! I may have to try and get some of the gamebird feed as it might reduce feed cost. This is my first flock so it is hard for me to judge how much they should or shouldn't be eating. Thanks again for the advise!!!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

In the past, we never had to worry about animal protein because feed makers just routinely included it. Over the past few years, the move has been toward purely vegetable protein in chicken feed. I'm simply not a fan.

The old wives tale about birds needing corn in the winter to "warm them up" is largely a myth. Corn is a carb and produces energy. Protein is likely far more important to inner body temperature than carbs. In fact, too high a protein feed in the summer isn't indicated. Protein in the cooler/colder months is indicated. If the feed does not have adequate animal protein or no animal protein at all, it is my experience that the birds consume much more feed, seeking both the protein and the heat generating capacity required during the colder months.

I've found that when raising out chicks that a Gamebird formula, with 24% protein, largely built on animal protein (3rd ingredient in the bag tag) results in far less total feed consumed. A high animal protein feed base also allows for room in the diet for more whole or cracked grains and alfalfa meal, thus off setting the expense of the Gamebird feed. If that all seems too fussy, then feeding a layer formula of 16% protein is fine, if that protein is largely made up of animal sources.

Just my $.02. Hope it helps.

x2 this is good advice. Switching to a higher protein may help. If you are switching from a layer to a game bird be sure to add a calcium source if you do not already have an extra one.

Also keep an eye out for feed thiefs like rats and wild birds. That is a lot of feed to be going through.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Also keep an eye out for feed thiefs like rats and wild birds. That is a lot of feed to be going through.

This. A thousand times.... this.

 

[Greasydog26]

x2 this is good advice. Switching to a higher protein may help. If you are switching from a layer to a game bird be sure to add a calcium source if you do not already have an extra one.

Also keep an eye out for feed thiefs like rats and wild birds. That is a lot of feed to be going through.

Ok. Yeah, there shouldn't be any problem with rodents. They must just be really hungry. Does anyone know what the recomended amount of feed for 1 bird/day should be. I had heard somewhere that it was like 0.5 pounds which just seems like a lot...

 

[Fred's Hens]

5 ounces, but a large fowl, in winter, will often eat 6 or 7 ounces.

 

[PiGE0N]

Maybe they're wasting a lot of it?? What are you feeding?
I used to use the type of feeder that had a big 'jar' attached to a dish - like a big chick feeder. One of my girls would just stand there scooping feed out till it was empty - THEN she would start to eat off the floor.
I saw this in the feeder section of the "Coops" page



Solved the scooping problem immediately. I fill the pipe once a week.
They stay in their run (dogs in the yard) but they also get kitchen cleanins' every day.


edited to add:
OR - maybe they're 'sharing' with something else. Wild birds?? Mice?? Rats!!??? Something else???

Ohh those are neat feeders; they look so easy to make, mess-free, and don't take up much space at all! Even a lid can go on the opening to prevent critters from getting in, I will consider making a feeder like this - thanks!
Will five hens fight over that one feeder or will I have to have __ feeders per __ birds?

Also, thank you guys for your replies~

 

[canesisters]

Your girls should do fine with just one. I have 5 hens and a roo. I've never seen them fight over the feeder. No signs on the birds of misbehaving either. I guess that once the top birds get their fill, the others take turns. I did have to replace the bottom part - to a bigger opening - my roo's comb didn't fit inside and he kept banging it on the edge. It didn't seem to bother him, but I was afraid he might not get enough to eat if he had to give himself a headache every time he ate.