Author Topic: How much should they eat? (Read 1426 times)

wannabesmallholder · « **on:** June 29, 2018, 06:46:44 am »

How much layers pallets would you expect free range chickens to be eating at this time of the year? My new hens don’t seem to be eating hardly any at all!! I wonder if they don’t like their feeder. It’s a grandpas one, but I’ve got it fully open so they don’t have to operate the step yet.

There are 7 of them on about a quarter of an acre. They seem healthy and are laying, although one looks smaller than the others (and Indont think is laying)

harmony · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2018, 08:36:26 am »

If they are free ranging then they will be eating lots of goodies out and about. I haven't any experience of that feeder but people on here do so I suspect someone will come along and comment on that soon.

If their combs are a deep red colour it is an indication they are laying. Also you should know by the number of eggs you get daily unless they are laying out.

docsal · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2018, 01:44:00 pm »

When I had hens in a small town garden they ate a cupful of layers pellets each per day. Now they have 4 acres (plus neighbours fields!), they probably eat about a cup a week!!!

docsal · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2018, 01:44:28 pm »

... and still lay daily!

Perris · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2018, 02:50:10 pm »

my guess would be that they don't particularly like pellets - that's what I discovered with mine. This is easy to test if you want to: look for a different performance if you put grain or fermented feed in the same feeder.

doganjo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2018, 08:18:37 pm »

If tehy are fit and well and most of them are laying, then count yourself lucky that you're saving money. You could give them vegetables or peelings, or some grain. If they eat that with gusto but still refuse pellets then you could try changing the make. I've noticed that different makes look different so maybe they taste different too