Thumbcat Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Will 3 chickens eat enough food to get through a 20kg sack before it goes out of date/mouldy or should I be getting a 5kg sack? And if I'm trying them on a food they're not used to, is it worth getting the smaller bag in case they're fussy (I already have a fussy child so it would be just my luck to get fussy hens)! I'm keen to try the Garvo pellets having just ready on here that it may result in less poo. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I have 4 bantams who have eaten just under 50kg in a year. I keep the feed in a dry dustbin and it doesn't go off before they finish it. Yes I would try a small bag first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Mine love Garvo - although I actually have 6 girls. Not sure I've ever seen a smaller bag though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I have had 3 girls since November and they are on their third 20kg bag of Marriages, which they love. It's GM free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 We work on one hen eating a kilo of feed in a week Thumbcat. The actual amount depends on whether they are laying, the ambient temperature, the breed and the size of the bird, with bantams eating half that. So if you have 3 laying hens a 20Kg bag will last about 7 weeks. The bags usually have a shelf life of three months but it is important to check the label on the bag. We went into one shop recently and the bag of feed we looked at had a use by date of March 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Large fowl it's about 100grams a day per bird smaller ones a little bit less I've got about 22 birds ( varying sizes although the are supposed to be large fowl the cream legbar crosses are all small ) and I use a 20kg sack of very good pellets a week. when I worm them the pre mixed pellets of any other brand only lasts 5 days the main thing you have to watch is the sell by date I've had bags 'go off' 30 days before the sell by date some of the cheaper brand only have short sell by dates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbcat Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 Thanks for all the advice. OH has been out laying some extra paving today for the eglu run to go on, so I'm a bit nearer to getting my girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...