I have 8 hens, Am I feeding them enough?

[Shortblondemommy]

They are free range if that helps.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How old are the birds?
Can you post a pic of the "scratch" and a pic of your birds?

It will help us to help you.

 

[1muttsfan]

Generally you will find it easiest to keep some formulated chicken food always on hand for them. Either flock raiser, layer pellets, grower /finisher, whatever is most appropriate for their age and state of laying. And they do pick at their food all day, they eat little bits here and there, so don't try to limit how much you give them. If fed a properly balanced diet they will not overeat.
Scratch is very different looking than regular chicken feed, which is either a crumble or pellet. It is composed of some kind of grain mix, usually cracked corn, oats, and other whole grains. Just a handful or so a day is plenty for a small flock, scattered around for them to pick and scratch at.

 

[Shortblondemommy]

How old are the birds?
Can you post a pic of the "scratch" and a pic of your birds?

It will help us to help you.

I will most definitely post some pictures, after all the messages on this post I went to the feed supply store and found out I have Been giving them layer pellet. It’s raining here so I’ll post some pictures when it clears up!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Layer pellets are fine as long as they're all laying age, or very close to it.

As a general rule you want to "free feed" chickens - give them as much as they want to eat. Most chickens are fine at monitoring their own intake. The only time you wouldn't is if a chicken requires a restricted diet because of some sort of illness or because they're a meat bird that you're trying to keep from gaining weight.

 

[Peppercorngal]

They are free range if that helps.

Yes, free ranging give them the opportunity to eat bugs and obtain grit naturally. Scratch is normally mostly cracked corn with some bird seed in it. It's a good treat, but too much corn will make a chicken fat and lazy and does nothing for laying. You should be giving them a 16 to 20% protein feed as their primary food source. The greens and scratch are good supplements but they need protein. Chickens do eat all the time, but you should see them dirt bathing or simply resting once in awhile too. If not, they are hungry! Enjoy the chickens, welcome to BYC!

 

[Peppercorngal]

I will most definitely post some pictures, after all the messages on this post I went to the feed supply store and found out I have Been giving them layer pellet. It’s raining here so I’ll post some pictures when it clears up!

Wow! Yesterday's storm was something else huh? I'm in the hills in Butte County and we had rain, hail, snow, lightening thunder and 40 mph winds. Today was better, just a little wind and rain! Oh well, we need the rain!

 

[Shortblondemommy]

Wow! Yesterday's storm was something else huh? I'm in the hills in Butte County and we had rain, hail, snow, lightening thunder and 40 mph winds. Today was better, just a little wind and rain! Oh well, we need the rain!

Yes not much fun when you need to get work done outside!!

 

[Bobby Basham]

They really do have complicated nutritional needs.

To balance their nutritional needs it really is easiest to buy a prepared commercial feed.

The 2 cups of scratch...... Is that each day?
If so that is a huge amount.
For 8 hens that are full size you should cut back to about 1/2 cup maximum on the scratch.
The sprouted barley is not nutritionally complete either. Its a great treat but not meeting their needs.

Reading up about fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome can help understand why to many treats are bad for chickens.

Please, Please, Please...do your homework before taking on any critters. All your greens look good and such, but they could still be starving/lacking the nutrition that they really need.

Sorry to fuss, but some folks think that they can buy a chicken, feed it some cracked corn and a few blades of grass, and think that all is well, and then wonder why they're getting all these irregular-shaped, soft shelled eggs and other issues because of a deficient food regimen.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Please, Please, Please...do your homework before taking on any critters. All your greens look good and such, but they could still be starving/lacking the nutrition that they really need.

Sorry to fuss, but some folks think that they can buy a chicken, feed it some cracked corn and a few blades of grass, and think that all is well, and then wonder why they're getting all these irregular-shaped, soft shelled eggs and other issues because of a deficient food regimen.

?? I am a bit confused ??
You quoted me but I was cautioning the OP about the same things.