Running out of food quickly

[Fluffy_Feathers]

So when I got home I filled my 7 chickens' container up with food. About 5 hours later most of their food was gone. They usually don't eat that much that quickly, but I have been noticing them eating more and more. I know that winter is coming and that they will probably be eating more food to get ready, but this seems a bit excessive. My feeder is about the size of a gallon (I say gallon because if I fill a gallon pitcher with food it completely fills the feeder. I forget the actual size. If needed I will tell exactly.), and it says it will feed about 10 chickens. I have only Road Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons. Is this normal? Is a pest getting there and eating it all? If it is a pest, how can I stop them without putting my chickens in danger?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Is there feed billed out around the feeder?

Otherwise rats, mice and wild birds to name a few, will quickly clean out a feeder. That's too much feed consumption for that many chickens.

 

[Folly's place]

I have feeders in the coop, not outside. Mice or rats will leave sign (poop) so you know if they've been there. I do have a mouse problem here. What are you feeding, and do a lot of wild birds also share the feast? Mary

 

[blackdog043]

Something else is eating it also or is it all over the ground?

 

[The Phantom]

How many hens do you have?

 

[blackdog043]

How many hens do you have?

So when I got home I filled my 7 chickens' container up with food.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree with the rest. You have something cleaning out your feeders now.

If it's during the daytime, look for squirrels who are storing for the winter as well as birds and rodents.

I purposely hang my feeders about chicken chest high to avoid billing. But that won't prevent critters.

Keep an eye for signs of what is getting it. The critter type will determine how best to deter it.

 

[Cindy in PA]

How can anyone know that something else is eating the food by the above description? We know the OP has 7 chickens, but we do not know how much food they are actually feeding. "About one gallon" means nothing if the weight is not known. A feeder that feeds 10 chickens tells nothing also. Chickens eat .25 to .33 lbs. per day on average. Weigh the food you are putting in & then you can determine if it is too much & some is being wasted. So many people think chickens eat very little which just isn't true. Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

A gallon is a gallon. That is 16 cups of feed. Now way are 7 chickens eating 16 cups of feed in 5 hours. Either it is being billed out, or there is a varmint. I'm guessing it is a varmint, b/c she'd be noticing a LOT of feed mixed into the bedding.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree with lazy gardener.

Gallon is volume. No way 7 birds are eating that much volume of feed in 5 hours.

It has to be billing out or critters getting in.

Since the owner isn't seeing feed on the ground, it is busy winter gathering critters.

My bet is on squirrels since it is daytime.

But a heavy rat population can clean you out too. I once went through 40 lbs of feed in less than a week when normally it takes my flock 2 weeks.

Critters are the answer