Unsecure chicken perches

[Margaret]

Just wondered if my Girlies anr turning into Piggies

Between them ( 7 ) eat a 20kg sack per week, just going to worm them and have ordered the marriges with the flubenvet added as seems an easier option. I used to do the grape method but with now having 7 dont think it will be easy as it used to be.

I average 4 sacks of garvo per month plus 1 of Alfa mix for evening treets are they greedy or is this normal for 7 healthy laying girls to consume.

[percy049]

That does seem like a lot... but then its difficult for me to compare, as we've only got 2, they dont lay anymore, and we give them loads of treats! 5kg of pellets usually lasts over a month!

[coco]

That does seem rather a lot. My nine girls go through a 20kg sack every 3/4 weeks. Are yours wasting a lot on the ground and digging it in.

[Redwing]

It is a lot, an average large fowl chook in lay will probably eat about 150g of feed a day

 

I'd also recommend that you check for signs of wastage/spilled food

 

Also I'd be inclined to think you may have a rodent or winged thief about

[Egluntyne]

I'm guessing that you have unwanted guests, either rats, squirrels or other birds dining out at your expense.

 

Next time you worm the hens, it will be easier and more effective if you follow the manufacturers instructions and give them dosed pellets.

[Saronne]

Gulp! My 18 hens, who are all in lay, go through a 20 kg sack a week!

 

Saronne x

[chuckmum6]

Wow they certainly like their food, my 9 banties take about 4 to 6 weeks to finish a sack! I hope they are laying lots of eggs to make up for the expense!

[sjp]

my nine take about 4 weeks to go through a sack of garvo 731 pelletts

I'm worming them at the moment I've always found mixing it easy I use a good sized plastic bag without breather holes put abot halff a pound of peletts in add wormer shake add the rest of the first kilo shake add cod liver oil shake the add the secound kilo of feed and give it all a good mix/shake

[Mercedes55]

It is a lot, an average large fowl chook in lay will probably eat about 150g of feed a day

 

I'd also recommend that you check for signs of wastage/spilled food

 

Also I'd be inclined to think you may have a rodent or winged thief about

 

Going by those figures then our girls should be eating 8.4Kgs of feed a week and they aren't

 

I don't really keep a track of when I open a new bag of food as they are always having other things like porridge, greens, corn etc., however last week I wormed them and 6Kg of pellets lasted them the whole week. Maybe they aren't eating enough

[alet_chicken]

Hi, I have 9 hens and they take 4-5 weeks to get through a 20kg bag of pellets. Methinks you may have some non-paying guests

[Redwing]

It is a lot, an average large fowl chook in lay will probably eat about 150g of feed a day

 

I'd also recommend that you check for signs of wastage/spilled food

 

Also I'd be inclined to think you may have a rodent or winged thief about

 

Going by those figures then our girls should be eating 8.4Kgs of feed a week and they aren't

 

 

Dont panic, its a very very rough guideline

 

Hens dont really under or overeat

[MummyHen]

OMG - Margaret that does seem a lot

My 8 girls (7 are in lay) go though a sack of 731 layers mash in approx 4 weeks; they have some treats (garvo treats, special mixed corn & alfamix; all mixed together) each day in the pm; the treat mix lasts a long time more than 4 weeks. Mine aren’t FRing much, some days not at all - today they were out for only half hour whilst I had a cleanup.

 

If I remember correctly, your girls don't FR much - perhaps they are just eat due to boredom or do you get much spillage or do you have other unwelcome guests pinching your girls’ food. Put up a camera to monitor the activity whilst you're at work Me No I'd never do that

[Eggasperated]

5 Girls free-ranging in 250 sq metres - 4-5 weeks to eat 20kg bag Garvo 731, with mixed corn treats every other day (unless I feel sorry for them in the rain ).

[Margaret]

Girls never FR as work full time, in a 24ft WIR, ( OH built them a new extention )

WIR is on concrate, so no visitors, have loads of perches, peck a block, mirrors, 2 dust baths...

So they must be turning into little piggies

Does cost a lot though

[quickcluck]

I've had a similar problem.

 

I found the way to solve it was to change the type of feeders. I now have mainly hanging feeders, the ones with the little plastic partitions are essential as it completely cuts out the wastage by them flicking it about or when it gets knocked. I halved my usage!!!

[Margaret]

Have hanging feeders

2 of them, fill them up everyday and empty by evening

[Jools]

Admit it Margaret, you've got turkeys haven't you!

[Margaret]

[quickcluck]

like this?

 

 

the little dividers are really important

[Margaret]

Yes. Honest

Just like that.

[Redwing]

is the mesh big enough for small mice/rats to get in? 1x1 or larger?

 

Also gap under the door etc....??

[Margaret]

I'm sure mice could fit through the gauge....BUT.... not millions,

Cant be feeding the whole population of Kent. Can I ???

[MummyHen]

The Welling garvo eaters are on the prowl

 

Set up a camera for a couple of days to record what happens

I have 3 cameras and its amazing to see who visits the garden and what goes on the WIR - no rodents just chickens

but different cats visit the garden

[Margaret]

Well...filled up the feeders when I got home from work, Girlies were in bed, checked feeders this morning...still full so no visitors in the night, which is what I though,as they have no way of getting in. So I hate to admit it but they are just greedy

Mind you is costing me a fortune, just a\s well I love them so much.