Why does this influence feed intake so much?

[Chicks Galore3]

So long story short for the past month, instead of filling the 40# feeder full of food, I've just been filling it with one-days worth of food. When I filled it all the way full, my 15 hens would eat through 50# of feed in 2-3 weeks. Now, with this new method, it is lasting them WAY longer!!! I have NO idea why. I'm talking 2-3 weeks longer. They always have a little bit left and never scramble for the food when I pour it in, so I know they are getting enough to eat. And yes, I've factored in that they are free ranging a little bit more now with the warmer weather. Any clue as to why they are "eating less"? Not that I mind or anything....

 

[LakeMomNY]

Maybe other critters were helping themselves at night?

Maybe lots of food was ending up on the ground, wasted, and now, with less abundance, the chickens are doing a better job of cleaning up after themselves?

Maybe they are eating a whole lot more bugs and greens than you think?

 

[evemfoster]

Yes I agree you are feeding more than just chickens. Something nocturnal.

Are your feeders inside a coop, are you locking the coop up at night? Any holes that will let rats, opossums, squirrels, skunks, racoons or other invasive critters inside at the feed?

I have to store all feed in steel garbage cans and make sure the feeder is empty at night or place it inside a garbage can overnight.

If you have any other feed out lock it up too. ( dog food, cat food, rabbit food....) The culprit should move on. But they will keep checking back to see if there is any new feed so keep protecting the feed.

 

[Cindy in PA]

15 Hens would eat up to 5 lbs. a day if they were penned. The 50 lbs. in 2-3 weeks is definitely in the ballpark. I would expect to feed at least 100 lbs. for that number when they weren't getting much free ranging. Glad they are eating less now, but that was not an abnormal amount.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I suppose I will monitor their weight to make sure they aren't losing any. But like I said, they don't rush to the feed when I fill it, so I think they are getting enough.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

I think it's the free ranging. My 6 girls only eat about 2 cups a day total because they get so much free ranging.

Also, have you switched foods at all?

 

[evemfoster]

Use this Cluck-ulator app to figure out how much feed your hens should be eating per day.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chickenwaterer.p5618jj

They haven't got all the sizes of breeds into the database yet but you can enter your flock size and age to get a daily feed average.