What time to feed at night?

[tigger19687]

SO...... my Question is, HOW LONG before bedtime should they be fed?

I feed 1/2 amount of feed in the Morning anywhere form 6:30 am to 8am. They have an open coop into the 25x14 foot run for right now,

If my hens free range all day and then I feed them at 5pm they leave FF in the feeder.
I can't leave food out due to the darn Chipmunk I have in the back yard. that is why I feed 1/2 in the AM.

Still trying to figure out what to do with the Chipmunk. I blocked one entry hole and put Chili powder and red hot pepper flakes in and around the whole (damn chickens went over and ate it all ) I also put some in their feed but I don't think that has deterred him much.

I have read here and there about making sure they are full when they go to bed.

and yes I do (now) pick up the feed at night when they go to bed and I lock them in the coop/run.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I notice how much feed is left in the feeders and adjust the amount I feed them so when they go to roost---they are full and there is very little left in the feeders----doesn't take long using a scoop to figure out that amount and adjust when needed. That way I do not have to pick up any feeders.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I feed dry pellets, unrestricted 24/7 in a hanging feeder, inside the coop. I let them out to free range 2 hours before sunset. I lockup the coop around 15/20 minutes after sunset, if I go out a little early, one or two of the girls are stuffing their crops at the feeder, and drinking water. So I have to wait a couple of minutes before turning off the nightlight and locking up, till they get on the roosts. GC

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Exactly what PD-Riverman says. Adjust the amount based on what they're consuming.

I feed FF in the AM, they free range in the afternoon, and get to fill up on pellets before bed.

 

[lazy gardener]

Give them their late afternoon/evening feeding when ever it's convenient for you to do so. IMO, it won't matter all that much. As for the chipmunks, they are destructive creatures. I'd mount an eradication program if it was my yard.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Exactly what PD-Riverman says. Adjust the amount based on what they're consuming.

I feed FF in the AM, they free range in the afternoon, and get to fill up on pellets before bed.

That's a good idea to also offer a dry feed to fill their crops before roosting. GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

I feed FF in the AM, they free range in the afternoon, and get to fill up on pellets before bed.

I do the same, minus the free ranging (though both runs are usually open in the afternoon so they have access to greenery). They really like to load up on pellets before bed.

 

[blackdog043]

I give FF in the morning before work, then they have crumble for the day and I give FF about 1 - 2 hrs before dark. They come running when I go out with the FF and attack the container. They love their FF!!

 

[dunnmom]

I don't feed mine in the evening at all. I give them soaked pellets in the morning along with a small amount of BOSS. Then usually a snack of some kind in the mid-late afternoon, after I see they've cleared their food dish. My hens are penned as per city ordinance, so they don't get as much physical activity as their free-ranging peers. They don't seem to have a problem with it, and maintain a good weight for layers, but they get super excited to see me coming with breakfast. I didn't know you're supposed to feed them at night, too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I didn't know you're supposed to feed them at night, too.

If your hens are doing well with their schedule and are healthy and active I wouldn't think you'd have to change anything. Just from watching mine eat though it seems first thing in the morning and about half hour before going into the coop are their favorite times to load up on food - by the time they're on the roost for the night their crops are very full and of course by next morning they're empty again.

Once they're in for the night I remove the feeder, so understandably they're excited to see bowls of feed the next morning.