I'm Going Broke on Chicken Feed!

[blackjava]

That seems about right to me.
That is .26 lbs. per bird per day.
We have 11 Black Javas and they go through 100 lbs. a month. They eat about 1/2 that when they free range.

 

[greathorse]

Not sure why you are getting advice as though this is something out of the ordinary. I did a calculation based on folks response to how much feed their chickens were eating and yours are right in the sweet spot. Less than some more than some. A well fed chicken is going to eat about 4-5 oz of feed per day. At 4 oz the will eat six pounds a day or 180 lbs per month. Not sure i would start worming and a whole bunch of stuff as a result of chickens consuming a very normal amount of food. The bad news is that it is not inexpensive to feed this many birds.

I ask myself the question all the time as to how many I can really afford.

 

[twentynine]

Sounds to me like you are feeding just about the right amount and the chickens are eating what they need.

I got 10 birds, 9 hens and 1 rooster, I feed close to 100# a month. Actually I think 100# last slightly over one month. You have 2.5 times as many birds as I got and from what you are saying, they are eating right at 2.5 times what mine are eating.

 

[kyrabear]

I have 50 laying hens, they aren't heavy nor light, but when I pick them up I can feel their breast bone too.
-I go through approx 150lbs of laying grumbles about 2.5wks and 50 lbs a wk of cracked corn
-I let them out of the pen some to roam, not much cause of the dogs, But I will if I am able to watch em
-I fill up the feeder in the moring and it is about 2 inches from the floor
-I give them fruit & veggies for treats
-I love my chickens, they are a great joy for me to have, but they are breaking the bank at times trying to feed em
-I have heard, if you want them to lay well, you must feed them well
-I get around 40 eggs each day, as long as they are not stressed

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
No that doesn't sound like too much. In cold weather I usually figure .3 to .35 lbs per hen, per day. Lets just say .33 lbs/hen/day, thats one third of a pound.

For 25 birds thats 8.35 lbs per day or about 250 lbs in a month, it sounds like you are right on target if you are going through a 25 lb feeder full every three days.

It's normal to feel a breastbone on most layer hens. They aren't built with a lot of meat like a broiler.

 

[kyrabear]

Hey what is a "Flock Block??"

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
What are you doing with those eggs? It sounds like they could be paying for their own feed.

 

[Cetawin]

Personally I see no problem with what they are eating...my 30 go through 50 lbs per week. In the heat of summer they still go through a 50 lb bag in 9 days. Are you feeding crumble or pellet? Crumble will get wasted a lot more than pellet.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
It is a 25lb solid block of seeds, corn and etc. You can bake your own smaller version easy enough. PM me if you need a recipe for one, I make them for my girls all the time.

 

[Sequin]

The less income I get, the more expensive my pets seem to be. That said, I sell my eggs and that helps to recover Some of the food costs(I am very fortunate to get $3-5 per doz.). I am probably going through about the same amount as you are give or take a bit with my 22 hens and 4 roos. My flock gets to free range daily in the pasture, but they start the morning by congregating around the feeder and waterer - then they head out for some good times diggin' on the pasture. One thing I would suggest, is to find a local produce store or similar place; ask them what they do each day with the trimmings from the fruits and veggies; some locations will allow farmers etc to come early in the a.m. with their own crates and load up on the leftovers etc. This is something you could offer your chickens since they are not venturing outside. A good dose of fruits, veggies, and greens might help out a lot.