Wondering about quantity of feed

[Texokie1]

WOW! OK...I think my girls are piggies, then. I have eight 3-month old pullets (mixed flock, all heavy breeds), and I use 25 pounds about every three weeks (non-medicated chick starter until they get closer to lay...it is WICKED hot around here right now...I am keeping them on a bit higher protein since their consumption is starting to go down). And this is supplemented by 1.) being in a chicken tractor moved every-other-day to fresh grass/clover, 2.) being allowed to truly free range outside the tractor for 1 - 2 hours daily, and 3.) overflow from the garden (tomatoes, squash, zucchini, lettuce, cabbage, collards, and blackberries). They also get treats (I got a small sack of whole flax seed at an Amish bulk store, and they get freeze-dried meal worms). I gotta tell you, I am actually a bit concerned that one or two of them are UNDER weight...all bones and feathers...but seemingly happy and active. Craziness...maybe I *am* over-feeding...

 

[flewdacoop]

i have a few questions this may sound dumb.. but why feed organic food if they are going to eat grass that is in the ground that has been planted or grown not natural to our area, and does the type of water you give them change anything because of all the chemicals that are put in it to purify it..???? just a thougth.. i told yall it may sound dumb

 

[Texokie1]

Oh, I don't grow organic, just "natural." I'm just trying to avoid the antibiotics often placed in chicken feed (so that the chicks can develop a natural immune system, and the family doesn't get a dose in the eggs/meat). Organic is WICKED hard to do 100% correct...we could never go organic here...we allow the chickens to free-range on pasture after our horses (who are all vaccinated/wormed regularly)...plus, my tractor has pressure- treated wood elements. I looked into getting organic certified a while back, but I don't remember any prohibitions to chlorinated tap water...that's a good question though. I just remember several provisions certifying organic that made it prohibitive for us...

 

[cafarmgirl]

Oh, I don't grow organic, just "natural." I'm just trying to avoid the antibiotics often placed in chicken feed (so that the chicks can develop a natural immune system, and the family doesn't get a dose in the eggs/meat). Organic is WICKED hard to do 100% correct...we could never go organic here...we allow the chickens to free-range on pasture after our horses (who are all vaccinated/wormed regularly)...plus, my tractor has pressure- treated wood elements. I looked into getting organic certified a while back, but I don't remember any prohibitions to chlorinated tap water...that's a good question though. I just remember several provisions certifying organic that made it prohibitive for us...

Just to be clear, you know that medicated chick starter does not contain antibiotic's right? Amprolium is not an antibiotic and does not function in the same manner whatsoever. It's good to know the difference and the actions of each in case your flock comes down with a case of coccidiosis.

 

[Texokie1]

OK...I'll give ya that...amprolium is a coccidiostat (anti-coccidia treatment), not an antibiotic, per say. HOWEVER, some chicken feeds contain both amprolium and an antibiotic (such as bacitracin)...or just an antibiotic. For anyone that is interested, here is a link to the FDA's site on medicated feeds. Check out how many medications are approved to be added to broiler diets! Whew!

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/Products/AnimalFoodFeeds/MedicatedFeed/default.htm

I just prefer to use non-medicated...which isn't too big a deal since I have such a small flock, and change the poop board weekly (i.e. few-to-no sanitation issues that would lead to a heavy load of coccidia).

 

[BullChick]

Maybe I don't give my chickens enough vegetables. I have eight, 3-month-old chickens that just went through 50# of feed in one month. My four layers are each eating a cup of feed a day. I admit the layers spill food on the floor.
I agree with going as natural as possible. That is the bonus of raising my own chickens after all, isn't it?

 

[Texokie1]

I gotta tell ya...my girls LOVE the veggies. I bought a $1.99 suet holder from the store and hang it on the side of the tractor (just to cut down on mess), and they go NUTS. I give extras from the garden (like tomatoes that have heat-split or gotten wormy)...I've also found that they love the "butt-end" of watermellons that you end up cutting off...

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Mine eat plenty of veggies and or fruit on a daily bases. The typical day starts for my 'smaller' flock of fourteen at 5:30 am when I add their starter/grower feed which lasts all day. I just use a big scoop and I'm not sure how much it holds. This lasts all day and at roost time it will be gone from their feeder. I then open their coop door and they come flying outside. I then give them the daily treat of whole oats. Just a good few handfuls. Around 3:30 pm once home from work I hang either lettuce, cauliflower or a head of cabbage from a string in the run. They love this. This is the time I change their waterers and also add apple cider vinegar. Around 5-6 pm they free range till about dusk and head back to the run area. This is when I give them a treat of cut up apples, grapes, cantaloupe, etc. This smaller flock of fourteen will use a 50# bag of food in 3-4 weeks depending on brand used .

I use one of two brands from month to month. It depends on which brand the Amish which I get it from has at the time. They are both good feeds.

I feed either Pen Pals 18% Chick Starter/Grower Crumble: http://feedshed.net/Pen_Pals_Poultry_Feed.html which seems to last three weeks. $13.89

or

Kalmbach 20% All-Natural Flock Starter/Grower Crumble: http://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/Poultry.html which will last a complete month. $14.69

Once the flock reach laying age or after they start laying I will switch to either brands layer feed.