How much feed per chicken

[White Leghorn]

I have about 15 adult chickens and about 20 chicks that are all in the coop together. I have had them for quite a while and I have been feeding them about 1 cup scratch and 2 cups crumbles. Is this enough or too much? I need to know the amount each chicken requires. I have a small business and I am running out of feed before I can make any money selling the eggs so I am trying to cut costs. It cost me about $10.00 for a 50 lb. bag of scratch and about $15.00 for a bag of crumbles and that usually lasts a month. How can I make this last about a month and a half so I can make the money back from selling eggs?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

It would be best to put a feeder out so they have unlimited access to food so they will self regulate. Little feed will be wasted if you keep the feeder off the ground so they cannot scratch in it. Make sure to use a feed made for the entire flock, as the added calcium in layer feed will hurt the chicks' kidneys.

One way to stretch out feed is to allow them to free range each day. The added grass and small bugs they find will decrease the amount of feed consumed. Fruit and vegetables can be given, which will also increase the quality of their eggs.

 

[White Leghorn]

So a hanging feeder would be a good option? With a feeder would I still need to throw out scratch feed? I usually throw out into the run the scratch and put the crumbles in a trough on the inside of the coop. I forgot to mention that I do throw out some chick feed too every few days. I do let them free range for about 3 hours each day too so I have that covered. Anything else?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Yep! A hanging feeder would help a lot. I would suggest hanging it high enough that the chicks can't reach it until they are older. Scratch would be good, it gives them something to peck at so they don't peck each other. Also, sprouting grains can really increase the nutritional value and it's very inexpensive. There should be some threads about that on here.

Good luck!

 

[White Leghorn]

Sprouting grains? May I ask what that is?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Oats, alfafa, and the like are in a dish and are cultivated until they begin to grow. Then, the chickens are fed the green sprouts.

Here is a link on how to sprout grains: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Sprouting.html

 

[ChickenWaterer]

You can determine the feed and water needs of your flock using a free calculator at the BriteTap Chicken Waterer web site. Just enter the number of chickens you own and the calculator will tell you average food and water requirements. There are other calculators on the same page that will also estimate egg production for your flock based on the breed and age of your birds. Happy calculating!

 

[MikeGage]

The ideal amount per day is about 150g per bird per day. However this does really depend on the breed of bird and whether it is free range or cooped up. Like the others have said i'd simply let them eat as they will rather than trying to place a set amount into the feeder; always allow them to eat their fill with a little left over; they forage for the rest. =)

 

[Cindy in PA]

15 adult hens alone should eat 3-5 lbs. of feed per day NOT even counting the 20 chicks. It would have to be a very big cup to make 3 cups of food enough for all those chickens. How long have you had them? Seems like very little feed for 35 chickens.

 

[TheCrazyChick]

You can determine the feed and water needs of your flock using a free calculator at the BriteTap Chicken Waterer web site. Just enter the number of chickens you own and the calculator will tell you average food and water requirements. There are other calculators on the same page that will also estimate egg production for your flock based on the breed and age of your birds. Happy calculating!

OMG, that calculator is da bomb! Really helpful and EASY!!! Bookmarked that site for sure!