New to all this - 3 hens in my backyard coop

[Phlimm]

Brand new owner, so sorry to start a new thread on what is likely one of the most discussed topics here. But I looked over a lot of threads and there is so much information that it is difficult to figure out the best answer.

OK...we just got 3 year old hens the other day. First time owning chickens ever. They are in an 8'x8' area that has steps that they roost on at night and there is always some shade and water in a gallon pot changed daily. After a day of no eggs, we got two early this afternoon. So apparently the move from their old home to here was not a particularly stressful event. Hopefully.

My question is food. For the last 3 days they have been getting table scraps to eat. This morning was a 1/4 of a head of cabbage cut up, a couple slices of raisin bread from the Wildflower market, and a handful of spinach leaves.

Is this enough? Too much? Just right? Can they get by on just scraps with egg shells mixed in? Do I HAVE to buy feed? How do I know how much to feed them? Will they stop eating if they get full?

Thanks so much! I feel I have a lot to learn.

 

[BeccaSmith]

I am new too, I am on my second year and I have learned a lot from this forum. As far as if what you are giving them is enough to eat, I cannot answer that question as I do not have enough experience, but I would think that they probably won't get the right combination of nutrients needed for laying if you are feeding them just table scraps and egg shells. Also how are they getting grit to help break down the table scraps? If you are not free ranging I would definately provide them with feed 24/7, they will eat when they are hungry and know when to stop.

 

[jk216]

personally I feed my girls layer pellets 24/7 and give them treats maybe twice a day. Chickens need a balance nutritional diet which mine get from their pellets plus greens. I am still very new to chicken other on here have far more experience than I do. Good luck with your girls x

 

[deek]

No answers. Newbie too. Just welcome from South Georgia.

 

[Den in Penn]

Welcome to BYC. Just table scraps is not enough. Just consider the days you may not have enough or any scraps to give them. Let alone a balanced diet. A good feed is a basic requirement. I you have the scraps then they will not eat as much feed. A hen will need 1/4 to 1/3 pounds of feed a day. So your three hens could eat a pound a day. Feeding back the egg shells is a good way to supplement the calcium. Chicken will self regulate how much they eat. By all means read up about your new charges. Ask questions if you need.

 

[mm22kids]

I'm a newer mama too but, I would feed them egg layer pellets I was feeding mine only corn and by hand. I switched to filling a bowl and letting them free feed and I'm getting eggs galore now.

Good Luck and keep reading.

 

[BantamoftheOpera]

Welcome to BYC. Just table scraps is not enough. Just consider the days you may not have enough or any scraps to give them. Let alone a balanced diet. A good feed is a basic requirement. I you have the scraps then they will not eat as much feed. A hen will need 1/4 to 1/3 pounds of feed a day. So your three hens could eat a pound a day. Feeding back the egg shells is a good way to supplement the calcium. Chicken will self regulate how much they eat. By all means read up about your new charges. Ask questions if you need.

This is great info. Free ranging and table scraps can cut down on your feed bill, but not eliminate it.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I have to agree with all the other responses. The veggies are good for them. Check out the following thread concerning chicken treats

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

Chickens need vitamins and minerals that will not be provided from just table scraps. They need daily rations of a balanced nutritional diet. Feed stores provide this in selling bags of food. Egg layer pellets come in 50# bags. That's what you will also need to provide. Chickens also require grit in order to digest food, calcium, plenty of fresh water. Best of luck with the girls!

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Here is another thread that's very informative.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/129278/speckledhens-ten-commandments-of-good-flock-management

 

[Kikiriki]

Hi Phlimm,

I'm new too, and also have 3 chickens...they are only 9 weeks old. I also do not want to spend a fortune on food for them so Ive been researching what they need, what value things have, how to go organic, etc.

Here is what I found:


Each full grown hen eats from 1.8 to 2.2 lbs per week
                                         ( mine are medium sized, use 2.0)

Total food for 3 hens x 2 lbs = 6 lbs per week

Pasture grazing of bugs and greens is estimated to use 10% to 25% of total  

.25 x 6 = 1.5 lbs.  6 - 1.5 = 4.5

Need 4.5 lbs of feed per week

I am raising earthworms and hope to reach a sustainable population to include them as a portion of feed.

Worms sell for about $25 a pound and up! Can you imagine paying that much for a steak for yourself?

One idea I saw was to use a bug trap at night by an outdoor light to catch free nibbles for the girls. I want to try this but have yet to do it.

My girls like to free range more than eating their store bought food. They have access to the food, but just come in once in a while to nibble and nap. I'm in Florida and I have a very buggy environment, but weve had drought so Im low on both bugs and green forage...even so, when they free range they reduce their store bought food intake from 12 ounces a day down to six to eight ounces, so it does help. They have shown no interest in any people food except a mcDs french fry I shared!

That is not part of our normal diet, however!
And even though we have lots of sand, I still give the granite grit because it is not polished smooth and it varies in size more than our sand.

I also discovered the girls LOVE spanish moss, which I have in abundance. It is not toxic, but internet research finds it is also not very nutritious. It must have something good, though, unless it's the chicken version of those french fries!

Considering mixing my own chicken food:
I modified a recipe I found, I'd love some feedback on it folks...

Summer Chicken Feed Recipe

Winter feed 
To make one months worth of mixture (20 lbs)

Ingredients

(For winter, reduce oats 2 lb  and increase corn by 2 lb 
decrease millet 1 lb increase sunflower seeds by 1 lb)

(for northern climates you would want more carbs from corn than this for winter)

Items where the source provided amount equals the amount required only lists that price:
Note that some items need or are better with heat treatment: quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, barley, flax,sesame seeds. I would boil them with the peas and lentils then divide into daily portions and freeze for the month.

(Percentage)(weight needed)(pricing on internet)(Weight supplied) (price per perctange used)
25% oats.     5 lbs.        10.99
25% millet.     5 lbs.         8.39
10% split peas    2 lbs.     7.99
7.5% quinoa.      1.5 lbs.      24.00. 5 lbs.              7.25
7.5% amaranth seeds 1.5 lbs.      19.95 5 lbs.     6.00
5% cracked wheat.    1 lb.     Cracked.  8.96.    6.5 lbs.      1.50
5% sunflower seeds    1 lb.         11.75 5 lbs.        2.35
5% pumpkin seed (cracked or hulled)   1 lb.   15.95   5 lbs.  3.25
2.5% cracked corn    0.5 lbs.               2.85 5 lbs.     0.30
2.5% lentils    0.5 lbs.        7.80.   2 lbs.                   2.00
1.25% hulled barley    0.25 lbs.      6.25   1lb.         1.60 
1.25% buckwheat    0.25lbs.  3.29  1 lb.                  1.00
1.25% flax seeds    0.25lbs.         11.50 2 lbs.         1.50
1.25% sesame seeds.     0.25 lbs.    9.95. 1b.         2.50


Granite grit
Oyster shell (layers only)