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How much in weight or any other kind of measurement do you feed your free range laying hens per day?.

Just the amount per hen really i suppose in layers pellets or do you add something extra to layers pellets and if so why and how much per hen?

Do you have to feed them more in the colder months in case they stop laying?

Also how much area per square meter is legally required for Free Range or Organic Layers to roam outside?

I let mine eat as much as they like from a hanging dispenser. They also get some wheat in the afternoon and a few treats like chopped apple or left over pasta/rice etc.

I put about a pint of layers pellets in a feeder each day for 5 chooks. Sometimes they eat the lot, sometimes the don't. I also give mine kitchen scraps. I put some grit in the feeder with the food and half a teaspoon of poultry spice. Mine don't get out much with my being at work all day so the grit and spice make up for that a bit. They get a muller light yogurt pot full of mixed corn in the evening as well. I chuck that on the floor of the house so they have to scratch about to find it.

Zoe

Hi Paddy,

If it's layers, you usualy feed them ad lib ...

you can buy a feeder or make it yourself.

I feed mine some rolled barley, rolled wheat, whole oat and a bit of flaked maize. Morning and evening, and I also give them some bread from the local bakery.

did you find some chickens yet ? we have some available but they would be young though .. about 12/15 weeks so still a few weeks to go before starting to lay.

give us a shout if you fell like it ..

Camile

hi,
i think ya have to be a little watchfull of the amount ya give them. i read if they are over fed they wont lay.

Hi Shane,

That's true indeed .. I forgot to mention that it was for free ranging birds ... because they don't overfeed on the grain because they have plenty of other food available.

But when you have a good few birds .. I'd rather feed them ad lib so that the "weakest" birds can get some food too ...

Do you have chickens yourself ?

I was up in Tubbercurry yesterday, lovely part of Co Sligo ...

Camile

I knew I'd seen a very helpful guide on feeding chickens but couldn't remember where. Then I was reading Stoney's blog following his accident and remembered where I'd seen it. It wasn't on this site at all but on his. Here it is:

http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2005/12/ ... -chickens/

Very useful

Cheers
Zoe

yeah, i have 4 marans, 1 maran cross, 2 runner duck cross, muscovy duck and drake, 2 turkeys and 2 pigs for the chop on monday. a busy half hour before work every morning!!! nothing laying for me at the moment.