What's the best way to feed your flock?

[Cloverr39]

What's the best way to feed your flock? I don't mean what to feed them but how and when.
Currently I give my flock of 9 bantams pellets in the morning and a small amount of pellets or a treat in the afternoon. What time of day is it best to feed them and how many times should they be fed? Should I start feeding them once in the morning and once in the afternoon before they go to sleep? Is once enough? I'm trying to figure out when and how many times to feed my flock. I don't want a lot of food leftovers sitting overnight. It can attract rats.

 

[Yardmom]

I give enough in the morning to last all day in a old trouph feeder. Chickens do well with access to food at all times. If we are gone over night we use a barrel with a hole at the bottom to keep them fed until we return. I would use this method all the time if we didn't have mice.

 

[Acre4Me]

I fill two feeders in the large run, then they have free choice all day. Feeders have the baffles to prevent swiping (common 7lb feeder available everywhere), and it is hung at back height.

In winter, during particularly cold spells, they get a feeder 24/7 in the coop, with water access. The feed helps them generate heat, and we have light on a timer, so they can eat as soon as they wake up in the really cold weather.

In summer, I will do the free choice feed as noted above, but around 2 pm, when the run is fully shaded, I will make up a large tray of wet feed, add large ice cubes and put that in their run. I’ve noticed that when it’s really hot, they move/eat/drink less and this way they get a “treat” and they are eating and drinking at the same time. Egg production is supported bc of the intake of water. I had noticed egg production went down during really hot spells (despite access to shade, and cool in-ground dust baths), and I think it’s bc they would hide in their cool pits they dug and wait until it was much cooler so not really drinking or eating during those periods.

Two feeders is helpful to prevent any bullying that will keep a low pecking order bird from eating feed.

Keep treats to a minimum, very little actually. Or use my “treat” method above, feed+water+ a few seeds or fruit bits for interest on top.

 

[saysfaa]

They like to eat a little bit at a time and often. So they have food all the time in a bowl. Food storage is in plastic pails with gamma lids. Openings to the coop are covered with metal lath or hardware cloth.

I don't have signs of rats. Field mice and squirrels get into our garage so I regularly check round the coop for signs of any rodents trying to chew through the walls - so far none have tried.

 

[Isadora]

I feed them once a day inside their coop in feed troughs. Usually when I lock them up at night, there is still a little bit of leftover food so I know no one went hungry.

 

[Brooks_]

I feed them once a day inside their coop in feed troughs. Usually when I lock them up at night, there is still a little bit of leftover

So, basically free feed?

 

[Cloverr39]

Are these feeders any good? I used to have one of these in a smaller size for chicks. Can someone share their experiences with these?

 

[Sally PB]

They like to eat a little bit at a time and often.

That is the real meaning of "eat like a bird."

I have feed available when the coop is open. So from daylight to dusk, they have access to feed and water. I take the food out at lock up so that it doesn't attract mice.

 

[Isadora]

So, basically free feed?

Yes, but with the safeguard of not having tons of feet out there in case of flock of starlings come through. Been there, done that. those birds can clean out a lot of feed in a short amount of time

 

[DickMidnight]

mine eat from a hopper in their run that holds 80lbs of food

no chance i’d be out there feeding them every day.