How much Layers Mash do you feed per chicken

[WardFarmChick]

We have 25 hens and 1 rooster...how much laying/layers mash do we need to be feeding our chickens every day? Keep in mind we use cracked corn that is separate but is added to the mash mixture.
thank you again,
Lora Ward

 

[Fred's Hens]

I fed mash back in the late 1950's (that's about all there was) and still feed it today. The reason is simple. Cost and quality. A Hubbard mill near us grinds it fresh every three weeks. It is a good product, a high quality, fresh product for 40% less than retail, rural stores charge for a lesser, vegetarian product in crumble or pellet form.

I feed it from spring through autumn. I take a feed bucket, scoop in an appropriate amount and stir in some water and or some juices from the crock pot or frying pan oils/fat if available. Stir with a paddle. I like to leave it sit for an hour while I do other chores such as change out the waterers. The product becomes virtually identical to feeding crumbles. Visually, it is almost indistinguishable. One difference is simply that it is moist. The birds love it.

How to feed? Like fermented feed, damp mash is best fed in a trough. It won't work in any kind of PVC feeder or pyramid type plastic feeder. Thus, it s a bit more labor intensive. I find it best to feed an amount they can finish rather quickly. Repeat in late afternoon, a slightly lesser amount that they must finish off, leaving none available for nocturnal rodents. For this reason, it doesn't work as well in winter as it does the other times of the year. Although, if mixed with warmer water, the birds love the warm, oatmeal consistency feed in the mornings.

At other times, soaked, damp or fermented mash doesn't work for me? Why? When I need to be away for a couple of days. I need to keep pellets available for these times. I can leave two or three days of pellets, double the waterers and feel OK about leaving the birds for a few days. I know of no way to do that with mash.

For top production, combining a large amount of corn will seriously dilute the protein level of your total feeding program. Averaging 9% corn with 16% mash can quickly result in an average feed of 12% which can effect feather quality, muscle quality and egg production.

 

[WardFarmChick]

I was wondering the quantity of feed in ration to the number of chickens we have

 

[Fred's Hens]

An "average" layer eats 4 ounces per day. A bit more in very cold weather. A pound for every 4 birds. 25 hens and a rooster?
The math comes to almost 7 pounds of feed per day.