When to feed

[Klwright1122]

I used to let my chickens free choice until I discovered that the rats were eating as much or more. Tried different things to fight the rats none worked. So we went to feeding them once a day in the evening when they came into the coop. Yhe idea was that they would eat it all and there wouldn't any left for the rats. They free range all day long and when they eat the layer pellets nightly it is like a frenzy. It seems as tho they are starving all the time.. I have about 40 chickens. How much should i b feeding them a day? Also I was thinking maybe I should feed them in the morning--when the rats are asleep??!! Suggestions please.

 

[hennyannie]

Could you put the feed out in the morning near their free range area and put it away after they go in for the night. I would love to have one of those feeders that open when they step on it, I wonder if a rat could open that?LOL

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I feed mine once in the morning, I have 25 adult chickens, and I give them about a gallon size bucket full and they will eat every single bit of it and it is a frenzy for us too and then I let them free range...seems to be working out fine for us! There is post I started about feed. We figured it's about a 50lb bag of feed for 25 chickens per week! So if you do the math, your almost 2-50lb bags per week.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

There are treadle feeders you can buy and I'm sure someone has even figured out how to make one. It takes the weight of a chicken to open it. You could also check out some of the rat threads over in the predator and pest section, if you haven't already. Quite a few people have posted successful strategies.

With no other food or free ranging, the daily average for feed is supposed to be 1/4lb for lightweight breeds and around 1/3lb for heavyweight breeds. Any other food they're eating will reduce the amount needed, although unless it's a dry food with the same calories, it may not reduce it pound for pound. Chicken feed is very concentrated. A pound of tomatoes doesn't equal a pound of chicken feed, for example.

If you can't free feed, I'd be feeding them first thing in the morning and again before they go to roost. Feeding them before they go to roost is especially important in the winter.

 

[goldtopper]

Maybe a rat solution-

A Rat Zapper can be fun, google it. No danger to the chickens.

If you use regular rat traps, set it and then place an old milk crate over the trap. It'll keep the chickens out and the rats can crawl through the holes to certain death!

 

[Judy]

I agree, work on the rats, whatever it takes, or they will take over the farm....

 

[bigredfeather]

To answer your question, the average DP hen needs about 4 oz of feed per day, so 10 pounds a day is about what they would need. I agree, take care of the rats before you get overrun w/ them.

 

[dragonjaze]

plus, if you've used mechanical means to kill the rats and not poison, you can toss the dead rats to the chickens!

have to make those rats pay for all the food they've eaten

 

[Klwright1122]

Yuck...really???

 

[macadam8157]

Quote:
Really???? You of course know what chickens eat affect the way not only they taste but the way there eggs taste. That cannot be healthy for you or your birds but im only a new egg and open to wisdom?!?!