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Post by megintn on Mar 21, 2010 10:13:59 GMT -6
Our chickens are in a 1250 square foot fenced area, part pasture, part woods. We've been giving them layer feed twice a day. I have a friend whose chicken also free range, but she only gives them feed at the end of the day letting them forage all day.
How often does everyone feed their chickens and how much?
Are they in coops,tractors or free range?
I'm trying to figure out if we are over feeding or not. I can only find references to chickens that are in coops or tractors for how much feed they should get. Thanks for any input.
Megan
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Post by Timbo on Mar 21, 2010 13:49:13 GMT -6
Hey mine are in a pen and get one large scoop of mesh 1 time a day, usually in the afternoon. That is enough food for them to eat before roosting for the night and then they finish the rest of when they come down off the roost in the mornings and forage for bugs till afternoon feed time comes back around.
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Post by rinksgi on Mar 21, 2010 14:37:57 GMT -6
Mine are in a coop, but I try to free range them part of each day. Mine get about 5 oz of feed/day. I read that they should eat oz/day, but mine are heavy breeds, so I give them a bit more. I feed them 1/day, in the evening
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8bells
Junior Member
Chickens are Revolting
Posts: 137
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Post by 8bells on Mar 21, 2010 14:55:21 GMT -6
I would suggest that you NOT cut out the morning feed suddenly, as that would stress them. Try gradually reducing it until it is either none, or very little. They will be better foragers. Keep a close eye on egg production. If it drops, or a molt begins, you are moving too quickly.
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Post by megintn on Mar 23, 2010 8:56:01 GMT -6
Thanks for the replies. I think I'll try gradually cutting back the morning feed. Right now they get 2 of those plastic feed scoops from Tractor Supply-I think they hold 2 quarts- two times a day. Since Spring is trying to be here, there will be new shoots and more bugs for them too.
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Post by oleredhen on Jun 1, 2010 19:29:39 GMT -6
I keep feed and water in my runs and coops all the time. I change the water at least twice a day when it is this hot. I wouldn't want too drink hot water so I don't expect my chickens too drink it either. I have water bottles in the freezer now too put in the two coops that I have that the chickens can't get out into a run yet. It is just too hot too stay in a coop pinned up, but I have no choice right now. Hope too correct that before too long.
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verloncox
Junior Member
Quality over quantity.
Posts: 129
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Post by verloncox on Jun 1, 2010 22:19:02 GMT -6
oleredhen, we were just talking about our "bantam" situation. They are on lock down in the barn and we really need to build them seperate pens outside, especially with it getting hotter. We free range everything else but they wouldn't ever make it here if we did that with them. I use the frozen bottles as well to keep their water cool. Watering is my enemy number one right now but by fall I am going to have a better set up then now.........................some how.
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