Need help with a feeding method.

[FriendlyFlyer]

Hi. I have 9, 7-month old chicks (Golden Comets and Black Stars) and I have been giving them feed 24/7. I DO KNOW that most people believe that is the best way to feed chickens and I agree. My problem, is that I have a couple awnry chicks. I would like to start feeding my flock a certain amount of food each morning, that way it gives them something to look forward too and so I can hold back the problem chicks and teach them, that when they are good, they get to eat with the others. My question is: how much feed should I give my flock each day? How much feed per chick? What about adult birds? How much do adult chickens needs each day? Thank you for your answers!!!!

 

[Country Heart]

Never heard of anyone managing feed this way.

What are the behavioral issues that you are seeing? You might consider just trying to deal with them directly.

 

[FriendlyFlyer]

I guess you're right, I could deal with them individually. My friend has about 30 chickens and feeds them in the morning ONLY. They are all perfectly healthy and are even taken to fairs for showing. As for the method; I heard it from a reliable friend so...I guess I'll just try it out, if they seem lethargic I'll feed them more.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have 6 layers, 1 roo, and 7 eight week old chicks, I use an old 1.11 pound red coffee can and this time of year, they get a bit more than half a can of feed a day. Mine do free range quite a bit, and there are lots of greens and bugs for them to eat this time of year, plus all kitchen waste. I feed once or twice a day, depending. Start out with less, on a day that you can be home and check it out off and on through out the day. If it is empty quickly, you need to add more, if you get to the end of the day and there is left over, then start with a little less the next day.

However, as fall and then winter come on, chickens need more feed to produce the heat needed to make it through the night, it is good to feed them late afternoon, so you send them to the coop with a full crop. The colder it is, the more feed they need, as it warms up, cut back. If you have a heated coop, then not such a feed need.

I don't like feed available 24 hours, I think you get too much waste, and other critters like to come and eat it too.Chickens do not eat at night.

MrsK

 

[Stoney22]

I too do nit allow feed at all times. I use one one gallon oj container cut so its about three quarters a gallon and feed them a scoop of that in the morning before work. Then I free range them after work when im home. If im in a rush sometimes in the summer I wont feed them before work but just freer range them. They will over eat and just poop alot if I provide constant feed.

 

[FriendlyFlyer]

Thank you Mrs. K and Stoney22! I knew that I wasn't crazy thinking there were more people out there that have the same idea as me! Thank you for your help.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I use a gallon ice cream container to measure my feed. I fill it almost all the way to the top (I have 14 13 week olds, and 10 grown birds). They also get all of our kitchen scraps and the scraps I bring home from work- I'm a chef at a 3 star restaurant so they get food that is perfectly fine to be eaten, just not all that appealing to the eye. I also let them free range for a couple of hours before bedtime. They're all fat, happy little puff balls. I used to free feed in the coop, then I noticed I was going through a ton off feed (and suddenly my eggs started dissapearing too). I was feeding the local mouse population, and with all the feed they were going through, I'm assuming that population had exploded. One bucket trap later and no more left out feed, and we're all back on track. I'm saving money and the hen house stays alot cleaner without the chickens in there constantly eating and pooping. Good luck!

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
I was thinking the rodents were probably eating the chicken feed too, so I tested it by removing the feeder in at night and replacing it with a tuna fish can filled exactly to the brim with feed. It would be obvious if any of the feed was messed with or eaten over night. To my pleasant surprise it was perfectly intact the next morning. That's not to say it won't happen later, but so far so good.

I don't put the feed in the coop, just outside in the run. Same with the water. I want the girls outside as much as possible. It keeps the coop much cleaner.