my 8 week olds are eating like crazy

[blueseal]

i just started them on grower 11 days ago and they have eaten about half a 50 lb bag of grower. i have 17 standard layers . i have a 12 pound hanging metal feeder and raised it high enough so they cant waste any grain. i usually put a scoop in at morning and again at night when i get home from work around 5pm its a 1.75 pint scoop. they allways have grain in the feeder but boy can they eat. all part of growing iguess.

 

[big greg barker]

Thanks for the warning.

I have 50 standard layer chicks that are 4 weeks old. One more bag of chick starter, then to the grower. Oh yay. Maybe it would just be simpler to feed them dollar bills.
Where are you in mid coast? I am in Lewiston.....

 

[Renee]

Mine slowed down after a while. Take heart!

 

[blueseal]

Quote:
warren, over by rockland.

 

[big greg barker]

yep, I know where Warren is, I used to drive a milk truck through Warren every day. Long time ago....

 

[gocrow77]

I have 30 birds about 2-4 weeks older than yours and my 50 pound bag is still going. I bought grower when I got them several weeks ago since they were already somewhat feathered out. Mine free range at least 8 hours of the day though. I have 1 of the red treay with holes style chick feeders and I fill it about every other day. Most times I empty what is left of it on the ground when I want them in at night so they will return. Then I fill the feeder before putting them to bed for the night. I only fill it about 1/2 to 3/4 full each night and it is never empty in the morning. I do have all laying pullets though no meaties and just a few that would be considered dual purpose. Dunno why yours are eating so much other than maybe free ranging mine is saving me some feed. I also feed them lots of kitchen scraps - whatever doesn't go to the dogs goes to the chickens.....

 

[the simple life]

I just noticed a big leap in how much my one year old hens are eating.
It seems they are eating more now that spring is here, not sure if its because they are laying alot now or because the pullets have gone into lay or what.
They free range too so I thought they would actually eat less crumbles, who knows maybe they are.
I have 40 or so hens/pullets 2 roosters and a handful of chicks and I am going through just about 100lbs of feed a week now.
I don't mind spending the money since I make good money selling their eggs, it more than covers the cost of food, its just the trips to the grain store.
I use to buy 4 bags each time I went and it lasted me a month but I am going to start buying 8 bags now so I don't have to waste the gas driving to the grain store.
I always buy a 50lb bag of black oil sunflower seeds as well, they love that stuff and it gives them something to scratch for.
I buy scratch and cracked corn in the winter but switch over to the sunflower seeds in winter.