[BetteBoop]

Hi chicken folk,

I have 2 isa brown hens that are 6-7 months old. They lay daily. Their eggs are very large and often double yolked.

Usually they free range around the yard. Today I kept them locked up to see what they eat.

I gave them 4 pieces of bread, a bowl of fruit/vege scraps and filled up their laying mash dispenser (holds about 4 cups).

They've eaten everything in the coop and are squarking for more (or to be let out).

Is this a normal amount of food for 2 hens to eat? And this is pretty much the type of food they eat every day. Is there something I need to add to their diet?

[TherophosaBlondi]

My three get whatever scraps from the day before for breakfast as well as layer pellets ad lib and a couple of handfuls of mixed grain. They also have free range of the backyard. I get three 58 gr eggs a day.

Chooks are gluttons given the chance lol

This post has been edited by Beautiful Warlock: 10/02/2013, 03:54 PM

[BetteBoop]

Do you limit their access to grain?

It's costing me a fortune.

[Romeo Void]

Are other birds getting away with the grain?

[BetteBoop]

They get a mix of 3 types of food: laying pellets, organic coarse grains and commercial mash.

I don't add anything else to this mix but it seems to have everything, ie pieces of whole corn and seeds.

[harryhoo]

Our Isa Browns had unlimited access to pellets as well as any kitchen scraps each plus the odd scratch mix thrown in to their house. I was told that they won't eat more than they need and we only had to top up their grain once a week or so.

[BetteBoop]

Once a week? I'm filling mine up daily.

It definitely sounds like mine are at least part hog.

[Meagan]

I have 4 barter browns & I buy 40kg every school holidays as my parents live in the country so feed is cheaper than in the city. I get a scratch mix that has grains, cracked corn and a variety of seeds. They also get all the vegi & cereal scraps. They have a large fenced area which I keep them closed in for long periods, they also do get the run of the grass in the rest of the yard at least once a week.

If you don't have one, I recommend a grandpa feeder. I got a cheap one from Ebay - $70 compared to $240. It keeps the local bird population from eating the seed. The chooks learn quickly to use it & our feed usage dropped dramatically. It paid for itself in saved seed in about 4 months.

[BetteBoop]

Their food is kept hanging inside the coop in a poultry feeder. I don't think wild birds are eating it during the day. At night, the coop is rat proof once the door is shut.

I think the food I give them is being eaten only by them.

[ambwrose]

I have 3 hens and a rooster, they have free range of the back yard all day, and I lock them up at night. I give them the days scrap everyday and only add grain if the scrap bucket looks empty. They seem to be getting heaps and lay everyday . Chooks will just keep eating if there is food there.

Margaret