Type of Feed, When, & How Much???

[arlew0127]

What type of feed do you feed your flock? When do you feed them? How much do you feed them? How do you feed them? What kind of treats do you feed them and how often? Do you feed them table scraps (ie: meat, rice, potatos, vegies, so on ...)? ANY INFO WILL HELP!!! This will help out us newbees!

 

[dottysfarm]

Hey, I have been doing TONS of research on this as well... I learned the HARD way that one must properly feed their chickens. Here are a bunch of links that I have enjoyed here on BYC.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=453429
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=454015
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=425134
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=455686&p=1
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=446875&p=1
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5577514#p5577514

Now, these topics pretty much cover the do-it-yourself way of feeding. These don't talk much about feeding layer mash and commercial feeds, but I am not into that I am trying to learn how to make my own feed.

If you are of this type of thinking these will help

 

[arlew0127]

Ummm... Not to much info i see... I really would like to hear what people have to say about the food and so on...

 

[crazeetxn]

How old are your chicks? Do they free range or "cooped" up? I have some 2 yr old layers that I don't let free range but have a run for. I use Layena pellets. Some use crumbles. I just put the feed in a 5 gallon bucket in a bowl and they eat when they want. I also throw in some oyster shell just whenever I think they need some. In the evening, after I gather the eggs, I'll throw down some scratch for a job well done

 

[EssexGirl]

I feed mine layer pellets, just keep the feeder topped up. I usually throw down some scratch in the late afternoon so they keep nice and warm at night, and this morning I gave them some warm rice and porridge. They also love bread soaked in milk, and if we have any leftovers from dinner (not often!) they get that the next day, but I choose not to feed them meat. I've also been known to boil potato peelings for them. They say you should only feed treats that the chickens will clear up in 15 minutes or less - never a problem for my lot.

It really depends how determined you are to max out your egg production ... the more you stick to the layer feed, the more eggs ... but right now I'm getting 7 eggs a day out of 8 hens so I just feed whatever I feel like.

Hope this helps!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You'll find that a lot of people do a whole lot of different things. Some of the basics for a laying flock. If you raise them for meat, it is different. This is based on feed usually available at the feed store.

Age hatch until 6 weeks - feed chick Starter, somewhere around 22% protein.

Age 6 weeks until 20 weeks or start of lay - feed 16% protein content Grower.

Age 20 weeks or when they start laying- feed 16% Layer.

The higher protein in the Starter helps them feather out and gives them a good boost to get off to a good start. Once they are fully feathered out and have got a good start, the 16% protein Grower gives them what they need to develop at a pace that matches growth with maturity. Some people use a 15% Finisher from 13 weeks until you switch to Layer, but for our flocks that is really not necessary.

This schedule gives them a balanced diet. It has all that they need. Many of us give them other things, which we call treats. Some treats do not upset this balanced diet concept, but the normal rule of thumb is to give them no more treats than they can clean up in 10 to 20 minutes. And try to give them different treats, not always the same thing. Think balanced diet.

This assumes you are giving them everything they eat. If they free range, they control that more than you do. I free range mine and still follow these general guidelines. But I don't always follow them exactly. My feed store does not always have these things. Instead of a Starter, I can only get a 20% combined Starter/Grower. And instead of the standard 16% Grower, I can only get a 15% Grower/Finisher. Mine have access to the compost heap where I throw kitchen scraps. They get a lot of waste out of my garden.

You will find that many people on this forum give their chickens all kinds of extras, some of it pretty weird and strange, at least to me. Usually their chickens do great. It just shows how adaptable chickens are. As long as you provide for their basic needs they can handle a lot of different circumstances.

I gave the basics but I can't follow them with what I have available. I have to be adaptable too.