kerrie Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Hello, I've had our girls since January. I bought a new 20kg bag of layers pellets approx 3 weeks ago and they have already finished the amount I'd decanted into the 'feed box' in the shed next to them-approx 8 kilo's. This is much more than they would usually have-the are all laying and I know that makes a difference and they haven't been having lots of treats. The only differences are a different make of pellets and possibly a little bit more bokashi added. Is this amount normal for 3 chickens? Thanks K x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Could you have some nocturnal visitors? i.e. rats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I got told that my 10 should eat 2 sacks of mash a month between them...and they do, albeit 1 sack of mash & 1 of pellets My head hurts too much for me to do the maths on how much 3 chooks should eat a month...does 2/3 ish of a sack sound about right, so about 14kgs? This could be completely adrift, if so I'm sorry, I'll go to bed & sleep this headache off , the panadol has not kicked in yet! They won't overfeed as far as I know, my lot have days where they eat everything in sight and other days they hardly eat the bowl of mash, much less the grubs of pellets, but they all seem healthy & at least 6 of them lay eggs most days. And they don't get much in the way of treats...they think a bowl of mash porridge is a treat!!! Hope this helps... Just another thought, have you wormed them, I think that's one of the few reasons that they would overeat. Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adams Egg Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Hi, if I am reading it right, 8kg over a three week period for 3 hens is about 125g each, I can recon on my lot doing that and more. If I am reading it wrong then maybe nocturnal visitors? My feed went down quickly and I raised the hopper 3 inches and that stopped the vistors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEB Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 My three get through a sack of feed in approx 5 weeks. They have eaten this much since they started laying, and i definatly don't have any other pellet eating visitors. the only time they eat less is when they are getting more than normal free rangeing time and they fill up on grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 125g per hen per day is bang on the mark for egg layers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 A sack lasts me a week! Once they come into lay, their appetites increase massively, so this is probably what you have observed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrie Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 I bring the grub in at night so it's only the girls who are eating it. Seems like they're eating the correct amount-thanks for everyone's replies x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Hi I wormed mine as they are quite new but this week egg laying is up to full speed and I am amazed how often the feeder needs re filling every couple of days...compared to previously they are obviously busy ladies indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Hi, if I am reading it right, 8kg over a three week period for 3 hens is about 125g each, I can recon on my lot doing that and more. If I am reading it wrong then maybe nocturnal visitors? My feed went down quickly and I raised the hopper 3 inches and that stopped the vistors I watched a mouse leap about a foot to get into ny suspended feeder, couldn't see it's trampoline. Very carefully taking out bowls at night & putting on the shelf of those tall mini green houses. ..last night as I put 2nd one in ther was mouse looking back at me from inside the feeder!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Chickens are very greedy But they sounds like the right amount of feed to me, certainly no less than what my girls get through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
