What size waterer and feeder?

[forest42]

I'm getting 3 laying hens. I'm wondering what size waterer and feeder I need. Some of them seem really big, but i want to make sure they also don't run out. I saw a lot of people are refilling the water twice a day? Also should i put them inside out out or both?

 

[gritsar]

I have 14 chickens. I have a 3 gallon waterer in the coop and two smaller waterers outside. One is actually a feed bucket up against a fence that they prefer.
My feeder is a 30 lb. feeder. If I fill it all the way up I can go several days at least without refilling.
I provide feed in the coop only. Snacks I feed outside. Water inside and out.
My flock free ranges and rarely go in the coop except for egg laying and at night.

 

[lildinkem]

I have several pens. Some of my pens that have near 20 birds ( young chicks rangin from 2 to 3 month oles ) I have 3 gallon waterers. IF there is one rule I like to stick to, is change your water every day. No excuses. Any size waterer will get chicken pooh in it. It will get a slimmy feeling to the touch. that is not okay. And that is how chickens or any critter gets sick. With 3 or 4 birds, I would get a 2 gallon waterer. And change it every day. Whether you think it needs it or not. Trust me, my birds LOVE the nice fresh water. Their healthy as horses. Yours will too.

 

[Ms. Cluckingly]

I have 3 bantams and I have a liter waterer and a small circular galvanized feeder and they do well with it. Feeder doesn't need more food for about two days, and I refill the water daily. But not because they drink it all. Mostly because I spill it all over when I'm moving it.

 

[forest42]

well that is what i was wondering because the smallest feeder I found at TSC holds 12 pounds of feed that seems like a lot for 3 hens, and then a 1 gallon waterier, which didn't seem big enough? I appreciate the help!

 

[The Chicken People]

I am using an oil pan for water , they like to get in it when its hot. and I use a rabbit waterer hooked to the run so they have fresh clean water at all times! My feed bucket idea didnt work to well as the rain got it all wet! We will be finishing up coop and new feeder this weekend!

 

[toletiquesbysam]

If you got the 12pound of feed holder, that would be fine, save you from filling it daily. I use a 5gallon bucket homemade feeder and I refill it about every 3rd day, but I have a much larger flock than you.
Water should be changed daily.

 

[flightrisk]

Here in NC there are a lot of rural areas just outside the cities. Most farmers will tell you it takes about 22lbs of feed a day for every 100 chickens. This means each chicken eats .22 lbs of feed a day. For 4 chickens, that is under a pound of feed a day. With smaller flocks and waste, you will read here and elsewhere that chickens will eat anywhere from 120 to 150grams of food a day per chicken. If you convert grams to pounds, that would be a quarter to a third of a pound per day, per chicken. So just take that and figure out how often you want to fill the feeder! Even a 3lb feeder for 4 chickens should last 2 days or so. If you are letting them range in the yard, they will get grubs, crickets, beetles, etc and will eat less processed food. So a 3lb or an 11lb would be fine. The 3lb plastic feeders are small, but the 11lb are only about $15 and would give you a few extra days if you wanted to take the weekend off to go to the beach

-f

 

[forest42]

Quote:
flightrisk, thank you so much for your detailed and informative response!

 

[leah vanity]

Glad I stumbled on this thread! My chicks should be here soon and I'm trying to get all the other supplies ready for when they head out to the coop. Getting 7 hens in total