well maybe i can get an answer here !

[ryansmommy83]

So I dont want to over feed my little loves but I dont want to over feed either I have 6 hens and 1 roo how much do you think i should be offering them ? They arent free range yet only because i just added two new game hens and I dont trust them yet especially since i have alot of lose dogs and coyotes, and hawks. I feed them out of a dish. i have prissy hens !

 

[birdsofparadise]

You canʻt over-feed a chicken. They get fat or sick eating the wrong food. If you stick to growing mash/pellets until they start laying and then layer mash/pellets, you can give them as much as they want because it a balanced diet. But if you feed a lot of treats or a lot of 3 way scratch, you might start seeing a problem since they are high fat/calorie and low protein foods. Like kids, the hens will go on strike for the treats instead of eating whatʻs good for them

 

[jaku]

Quote:
I agree, as long as we're talking about layers. Meat birds, I do 12 hours feeding, 12 hours off- they will eat as long as food is out.

 

[TreeHugger]

I have non-meat chickens & give them all day access to food. Birdsofparadise is right about them going on strike for treats. I feed mine a mix of cracked corn & layer mash, they will pick all of the corn out first & eat the layer mash later. I only refill their pans once the mash is almost completely gone - otherwise they would eat nothing but the cracked corn.

 

[ROC4K]

Free feed with a feeder that doesn't allow for waste. They will scratch out a tremendous amount of feed especially if you premix grit and shells with your pellets. I have a hanging feeder that is well adjusted to the size of my birds. When my feeder was on the ground they cleaned it out scratching. They don't overeat a balanced diet if it is provided. They are dialed in pretty good to fill their needs.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I keep feeders and waterers full 24/7 for my laying flocks.

 

[jvls1942]

as with any animal,if you don't let them get hungry, they will not overeat when the food is available.

with my dogs I just open the fed bag and let them help themselves.

my wife has a feeder for hers, and she keeps it full.. same principle, only neater...

You can do the same with a feeder for chickens, is what I am getting at..

If you watch them, they will eat their fill and then go off across he yard the rest of the day pecking at the ground...