r my hens eating tooooo much???

[the 412 chicks]

I have 44 hens that are 17 weeks and the eat about 3 fifty pound bags of layer feed a week is that ok or not????

 

[Judy]

Sounds about right. Let them eat what they want. The only way to cut down on feed is free ranging them where they have access to LOTS of bugs and greenery and wild fruits and such to choose from, IME. Unlike some other animals, chickens do not overeat.

 

[the 412 chicks]

mine have lots of fresh fruits from the garden. tomatoes and letuce. on top of the 3 bags a week?

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

Quote:
sounds normal to me

edited to scratch the last part lol

 

[the 412 chicks]

ok i was just checking thanks

 

[chookchick]

I'm no expert, but extrapolating from my hens, that seems like an awful lot--especially if you are supplementing. Are you sure that rats or mice aren't getting into the food at night? No reason to restrict food, just make sure someone else isn't enjoying it.

 

[the 412 chicks]

i havent seen no signs of rats or other guest? we have a hanging feed

 

[Andora]

I have around 40 birds of different ages and only 9 of them are laying so far. They eat around 25 pounds of quality mash a week, plus a few scraps and a few handfuls of whole grain scratch tossed in everyday, and whatever bugs they eat out in my yard.