what should I feed

[Fred's Hens]

Well, if it were me? Yes, I'd portion control. It isn't so much about the birds over feeding as it is about controlling waste, Waste on the ground, waste to wild birds, waste to the mice, chipmunks, squirrels, rats, etc. Yes, portion feeding is not that difficult. You'll have some trial and error at first, but eventually, you'll have them pegged pretty good as to their wants/needs. To the uninitiated, portion control sounds like one is miserly with the feed, and that isn't the case.

I begin with the adage that a hen (remember, I only have hens) eat 4-5 ounces per day, or a pound for every 4 adult layers. I feed a half portion at 6 am when I am doing barn chores, watering, etc. When I come back to gather eggs at 10 am, I check to see if the morning feed is gone. If I've fed the right amount, it should be just about gone. When I come back in the afternoon for the last egg collection, the feeders should be empty. They get another portion. That portion should be consumed before they head to roost. That's the trickier part. I want them to be satiated, but I do not want feed out overnight. Dialing it in, but I know my birds well. If I find I need to up the ration, the morning feeding gets larger, smaller if I find they aren't eating it all in time for the afternoon feeding.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

Just had hubby to check when he picked up feed and the laying pellets i feed are 20% so I got him to get a bag of scratch also.. I keep my feed in tote near the coops plan to pour both bags layer and scratch and mix it up. Feed some before I go to work and get my hubby to feed of an afternoon, its normally dark when i get home. However I'll probably still fill up my feeder in the serama coop, they really dont eat that much... and when i mentioned earlier that I have over sized feeders, the serama feeder is a prime example lol. I took an muck bucket I'm guessing about 20 30 gallon, and cut about 5 holes in the side and feel it about 4 inches deep with feed.. LOL the serama are a lil spoiled.. Last year they were all in the garage with heat lamps.. I got a new coop and run for them all this year, however it wasn't warm enough, I've lost 6 in the passed week from being too cold.. so lastnight we were lining the coop and puttin heat lamps in.

I've only got a few sets that are not on the ground with pretty good size runs plan to feed them mostly layer and some scratch as a treat everynow and then.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

well my picky lil chickens are picking out the layin pellets and leaving the rest out.. hubby fed lastnight and when i went to check on them before bed. .there was still all the stuff that came in the scratch left LOL

 

[Ridgerunner]

Going back to the concept of finding a feed mill, have you tried talking to your county extension service to see if they know of any within driving distance? The extension service should be in the phone book under county government.

Waste can be huge in feeding. Fred mentioned most of the things I can think of as to what could cause it, but you might want to look a little harder in that direction. You might try raising feeders so they don't spill as much or restrict the opening so they have to peck instead of bill it out. I don't have ducks, so not sure how that would work. Maybe put a raised pan under the feeders to catch the spilled feed so they can find it easier. Pellets instead of mash or crumbles are easier for them to find. Maybe bring it in at night if rodents are eating a bunch. Wild birds eat a bunch of mine, especially in the winter even when I feed in the coop, but I free range and can't really stop the birds.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

we have on mill close but they only do horse/cattle feed.. the others that are anywhere near are over a couple hours drive away.. as far as waste they really dont seem to waste that much..we had a rat problem but thats taken care of now.. I'd say 95% of what i feed out gets ate by the chickens..

 

[Oregon Blues]

To control feed costs, I weigh the feed the birds get. They get fed twice a day and they are staying plenty fat.

The wild birds will eat many pounds of feed if they can get to it. I don't leave feed out for them. My birds eat what they are given and the feeders are empty most of the day. I had a feeder with 5 pounds of feed in it and no ducks. The feeder was emptied in a few hours. The only ones with access were sparrows. They will eat a lot of feed.

I keep my numbers down and that helps to control feed costs. A couple of birds fewer will really make a difference in the amount of feed needed.

I also feed cheap bread from the day old bread store. No more than 10% of the diet. Or rather, I used to. My last trip in, they gave me a cart full of hamburger buns labeled for one of the fast food places. My ducks refuse to eat them. If I can't get better bread, then I will stop buying it.