Getting chickens’ feeding routine right is key to keeping your flock healthy and productive. To establish a healthy feeding schedule, you must know how much and when to feed your chickens.
Chickens must be fed at least twice a day – in the morning and later in the afternoon. They prefer smaller meals more frequently than one large meal. They do not need feed at night. You should feed chickens a quarter pound of feed per bird per day. That is around half a cup of feed daily.
There is no one “right” way to feed chickens. When and how much you feed your flock will depend on a range of factors. You need to figure out a feeding routine that works for you. This article aims to help you do that.
Contents
When Should You Feed Your Chickens?
Chickens like to eat small amounts of feed throughout the day. Therefore, it is ideal to feed them several times a day.
However, for the average person who works a 9 to 5 job away from home, this is not always possible.
In this case, you should feed your chickens in the morning before you leave to work and again in the evening, before sunset. Chickens must be fed at least twice a day.
If you are retired or work from home, you can feed chickens three or four times a day. Feed chickens first thing in the morning when you open their coop, again at lunchtime, and in the late afternoon/early evening.
For broiler chickens that you are raising for meat, you want them to grow as quickly as possible, so you can feed them more. Therefore, for meat chickens, it is best to get an automatic feeder that dispenses feed continually throughout the day.
How Much Feed Do Hens Need Every Day?
To produce twelve eggs, a hen must eat around four pounds of 16 to 18% protein laying pellets.
It is crucial that chickens are given enough feed each day. If chickens are underfed, it can lead to a range of issues like a drop in egg production and fighting within the flock.
So, what is the optimal amount of feed you should give chickens per day?
The average chicken consumes about a quarter pound of feed per day. This equals about half a cup of feed per bird.
For example, if you have a flock of four laying hens, you should give them two cups of feed daily.
You must keep in mind that how much chickens eat is variable. It depends on a range of factors:
- Breed of chicken. Large, dual-purpose breeds require more feed than bantam breeds (almost double!).
- Size. The bigger the chicken, the more feed they need.
- Age. Day-old chicks only eat about half an ounce of feed per day, while a two-month-old chicken eats about two ounces daily. Mature chickens eat four to six pounds daily.
- Time of year. Chickens eat more during the winter because it takes more energy to maintain their body temperature. During the warmer months, they eat less.
How Much Feed Do Broiler Chickens Need Every Day?
Broiler chickens need a different amount of feed compared to laying hens. The goal with meat chickens is to get them to put on as much weight as possible in a short amount of time.
A broiler needs to eat around 2 pounds of high-protein feed to grow by one pound in body weight.
Broiler chickens have been bred to have a very high growth rate. To fuel their rapid growth, you should provide broilers with as much feed as they can eat.
How Much Feed Do Free-Range Chickens Need?
Chickens that are allowed to free-range can be given less feed than chickens that live in a coop and run full-time. Allowing chickens to free-range can significantly reduce your monthly feed bill!
Some people only let their chickens out for a short time every day, while others let their chickens free-range all day long.
Depending on how much time chickens are allowed to free-range, you can give them between a quarter and a third less feed.
Is It Possible To Overfeed Chickens?
Chickens will eat until they have filled their crop. You do not really have to worry about overfeeding chickens because they generally know when their crop is at maximum capacity.
What you do need to be wary of is giving chickens too many treats. If chickens get too many treats, they can become obese. This is often an issue with pet chickens and spoiled backyard hens.
Do Chickens Need Feed And Water At Night?
Chickens only eat and drink during daylight hours. They never eat or drink at night. Therefore, you do not need to put a feeder and waterer inside the coop overnight.
To maximize broiler chickens’ growth rate, farmers keep a light on in the coop at night to encourage the birds to keep feeding overnight. This is the only case where chickens need feed and water at night.
Do Not Leave Chicken Feed Out Overnight!
Leftover chicken feed will attract pests to the coop. Therefore, it is important not to leave feed out overnight.
By giving chickens just the right amount of feed during the day, you can reduce wastage and prevent issues with rats and mice in your chicken coop.
What To Feed Chickens
There are a few different types of chicken feed that the birds need to be fed at different stages of their development:
- Baby chicks need to be fed starter feed that has 20 to 22% protein. This comes in a pellet or mash form.
- Growing pullets should be fed growing feed that contains 14 to 16% protein.
- Laying hens must be fed laying pellets. These contain 15 to 18% protein.
- All chickens must be given grit, as they need it to digest their food.
Besides formulated pellet feed, chickens can eat almost any fruits or vegetables, grains, and seeds. You can give them table scraps as a treat.
Conclusion
Depending on what purpose you are raising chickens for, you can free feed them (providing as much feed as they will eat), or you can feed them at scheduled times 2 to 4 times a day (in the morning and the evening). The amount of feed that chickens need varies, but generally, a chicken needs around a quarter pound or half a cup of feed per day.
