[lokismum]

would anyone have an clue how many 20kg sacks of layers mash i would use to feed 50 laying hens free rang
a year?

[hughesy]

I'm using 2 to 3 bags a week with a similar number of birds.

[taz08]

am using 1 1/2 bags pellets

[lokismum]

brill thanks
if you don't mind
how much sell and grit do you use a week/ month
wormer
disinfectant

[hughesy]

I've got a bag of grit lying around but don't give it to them very often as they get what they need from the ground. They have access to acres of land if they want. Mine get wormed every six months I use flubenvet pre mixed with layers pellets it's about £10 for a 20kg bag and it takes two bags to do the whole flock.

[taz08]

if they free range you shouldnt need any shell or grit
and wormer  i use pumpkins   

[chrismahon]

Depends how much the free ranging is supplementing their diet Lokismum. Usually laying hens consume 100 -150g of feed per day. Hybrids will be at the top end. So 50 hens needs 7.5Kg per day. My guess is they will only need 5Kg, so a bag of feed every 4 days.

[lokismum]

thanks all
that's put it in a better prospective
was looking on another forum and buy the calculations i got from there was more like 20kgs a day didn't sound right that's why i asked
have only kept 6 chickens before so going up in numbers a bit 
will be quite free range shed at night
and allowed to roam 14 acres as they please pigs in 2 acre wood
and the horses but they are used to chickens around one has had her back used as a perch on more than one occasion
they will also have the veg and fruit perches to wonder
any more advice appreciated

[lokismum]

would you advise i use mash or pellets
I've always used pellets with my others but thought mash might keep the busy
what do you all think

[hughesy]

I prefer pellets. Mash seems to get messy and soaks up moisture easier. Out of interest I know someone who keeps chickens and ducks on a free range basis and doesn't feed them at all except for some mixed corn in the evenings. They don't seem to do any worse for it.

[lokismum]

OK pellets it is
this will be a job/project for my 19 year old disabled daughter
paid in egg sales
so the easier i can get her set up the better with minimum cost to me that is

[deepinthewoods]

if they are free ranging, then i wouldnt use pellets, just mixed grain..
pellets are designed for an enclosed environment.

[colliewoman]

I don't feed pellets for my lot, just mixed corn. I'm too paranoid about the goats getting into a bag of layers pellets so don't have them on the holding. My girls lay reasonably well, considering they, except the 3 wyandottes are all rejects from somewhere or another. 
My 25 birds get 3 small scoops a day (I say scoops, I actually use an old milk pan) thrown over the rough grass.

[Mrs Snoodles]

i'd go with what DIW has says - they have alot of ground and probably wouldn't need the pellets.  you may want to tame them up with corn near their coop first so that they know where home is and don't get tempted to roost/lay out and about.  you could use to get them close to home late at night.

[chrismahon]

Mash can be wasteful and is good to keep them occupied in captivity. But pellets for free ranging would be my choice -they will only visit the feeders first and last thing in the day.