They just wont grow!!!

[CasnLucky10]

Hello. I have 20 Buffs and 10 Rhodes. They all seem to be growing but just not fast at all. There are some hens that are still very tiny and I am just worried that I am not feeling them the right thing, at the right time, and enough of it. I am feeding them layer feed 4 cups day. 2 cups in the morning and 2 cups at night. I am also giving them a treat in the mid afternoon of 2 cups of scratch grains with oats mixed in. I do not give them feed or water at night. I have always raised Cornish Crosses so I am still new at the slower chickens. So I guess what I am asking is am I feeding them enough, the right thing, and should I start feeding them at night??
Thank you for anyone that can help

 

[tinydancer87]

4-6 cups of feed for 30 chickens? That doesn't seem like enough to me. I put out about 6 lbs of a 50/50 mix of layer pellet and scratch grains every morning, plus they free range and get scraps, watermelon, etc. There is usually a small amount of feed left in the pan at the end of the day.

I have 40 chickens and 5 ducks, but only 10 of the chickens are LF, the rest are bantams.

Chickens should have free choice of food and water at all times. Mine have gotten off the perch in the middle of the night to get a drink of water.

 

[CasnLucky10]

Ok thank you very much. I wasn't thinking that I was feeding them enough. I was told that they will probably eat about 1/2 or even 1/3 of what my Cornishes will eat. So just put it out in a feeder for them? And keep fruits and veggies out for them?? And do I feed and water them when they go up for the night or just water?

 

[downsm75]

Mine get free choice as well. I also have a few feeders so every one eats

 

[CasnLucky10]

Well I am thinking I need to go to town or make a feeder. Thank you for everyones help. I will keep everyone posted on how they are doing and if they start gaining any weight

 

[7L Farm]

How old are your chickens? They don't need layer till they start to lay. I feed mine starter till they start to lay. They normally don't lay till their around 6 months old. When their young they eat me out of house & home. I'm constantly filling their feeders. I wouldn't leave them without food or water ever. All my birds are never without food & fresh water. If I find them out I'll add more feeders & waterers. I know everybody does things different with their livestock & that's their choice but I personally never leave mine without feed & especially fresh water. With the heat we have in Texas I doubt my birds would live very long without water.

 

[JeffOeuf]

Grower ration is what they need now, not layer. Mine have free choice at all times, though I don't put it in the coop at night. They decide when to go to bed, and I lock them in sometime after dark...then I let them out just before sun up.

 

[Nicole01]

I have feed out 24/7. I feed medicated starter for the first 3 months before switching to layer.

I free range daily, so during the summer all 11 girls eat a 50lb bag in 2-2.5 month span. The younger ones 13-14 weeks are still very dependent on the feed vs bugs and outside goodies.

Winter time, I go through feed like crazy! Last year with the 8 girls, they ate 50#'s of feed every 3-4 weeks.