how quickly should 11 chickens be going through a bag of scratch feed?

[moodlymoo]

Wow this makes me feel bad...I go through 100lbs of feed a month and have been working of a 50lb bag of scratch for 3 months now. I have 18 and they do free range almost all days and get an occasional scraps treat from dinner the night before. I have a 50lb feeder in the coop so they control how much they eat. I did also throw a flock block in the coop but they dont really eat it. Am I not giving them enough? They all seem happy and healthy

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
No need to feel bad. If your birds have access to all the feed the want, via your feeder, as you describe it, you cannot really be underfeeding them.

 

[Ole rooster]

That's something I was wondering. If I keep feed out to eat as the feel the urge, and they have a little scratch and free range all day, how do I know how much one eats in a day. There has to be some that are pigging out more than others. Wouldn't you think. But I do see all of them eating. Just don't know how much.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I only feed a small amount of scratch per day, maybe 2 small handfuls. I prefer to give them Calf Manna.