The Ultimate Newbie Question!

[gvntofly05]

I have 26, 7-week old EE's and they go through 50lbs about every 10-14 days. They also get scratch in the run and any fruits or veggie scraps I have left from the day.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

My 22 almost 5wk old RIR chicks are eating approximately 7lbs of feed daily right now.

Marty

 

[Keri78]

I have 15 chickens-4 of which are Buff Orpingtons and the rest are Cochins & Frizzles. I started out going through one 50 lb. bag of Starter Feed a month. Now that they've gotten older(my oldest ones are 25 wks.) and my youngest are about 10 wks. I've continued to feed them the starter feed until the little ones are grown and then I will switch them all at the same time to layer food. Anyway, I do have to limit their feed b/c they are in their coops all day and night and only get to free range every other day or so depending on the weather and whose turn it it to run free! I feed them a nice big pile of feed in the morning and this lasts them all day. By nighttime, they are scratching around in the wood shavings and finishing it up. By morning they are good and hungry again. They free range about 2 days a week b/c I have to rotate each flock( I have four chicken tractor type coops and each roo has his own hens) on different days(roosters always through a kink in the works!) I also offer them table scraps daily but not much. They seem happy and satisfied. After they eat in the morning they take a break and all go snuggle up and take a nap and then later they come back to eating again. Right now I am going through 2- 50 lb. bags of starter($14 a bag) a month!!! I can't wait until they are all grown and I can switch to a less expensive feed!!! I'm open to suggestions! Blessings, Keri

 

[write2caroline]

I also have 6 chickens (5 pullets and 1 rooster. ) I by 2 each 25# bags of FRM and refill their feed thingy daily. I also offer yogurt and found they love raisons in oatmeal. I refill their water almost every other day and add to it some Apple cidar vinegar - about a tsp.

I am not sure if FRM layer crumbles is better or worse but the other feed stores sold crumbles in bags that often had tears so I got it for the sturdy bag! Lame I know! The price is not so bad. I think I pay about 12.50 per bag - something like that.

I use hay for bedding since the straw was almost 3 X the price. 6.25 per bale vs 15.25 for a bale of straw. in Jax FL.

We definately go through a bag every 15 days.

I have 2 Golden Laced Wyandottes Pullets (5/15/2009 hatched) They seem big about 5 pounds now
2 Silver Laced Wyandotte Pullets (7/20/09 hatched) One is about 5 pounds the other is smaller 4 pounds
1 Barred Rock Pullet 7-20/2009 hatched she is smaller 4 pounds now
and my rooster 7/20/2009 hatched - Just started to crow recently He is a 6 pounder fella.

No eggs from anyone yet

Cal
Jax FL

 

[Puck-Puck]

Wow, lots of variation in the statistics. I'll just add more info to the mix. I have two separate coops, for which I open separate bags of feed--less walking back and forth for me, and I can keep track of which coop goes through how much. Thirteen red sex links at the beginning of their laying career can make a 50lb. bag of layer feed last about 15 days. The mostly-black-sex-link coop (six of those plus an Ameraucana and a Brahma), all a year and a half, go through the same amount of food in 14 days. Fewer birds, about the same size, more feed. And they're thinking about taking a break from egg-laying! The feed is almost their exclusive diet, as I don't think the treats amount to much, and they've eaten most everything in their run.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I have 99 birds & I go thru #50 scratch & #50 lay pellets a week. 11 are turks,& they eat ALOT more than the chickens & pheasants.