How much food per chicken ????

BigFishLittleFish · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:34 pm

I was reading another post which mentioned isa browns do not get fat.
and it got me thinking.......

I picked up some of my girls this afternoon who kept literally attacking me while i was sitting on the grass with them. and while holding the 2 girls i was feeling their breast bones and GIANT crops. I know they eat a LOT and never get fat, but they do look huge with all their feathers and the height of them.
While i sat with them they ate 4 cobs of corn between the 5 of them.
Early in the morning i gave them roughly 3 cups of pellets with hot water which expands to some monstrous amount. which they ate ALL of it.
Then they have the feeder which is ALWAYS full of pellets and a little crushed corn and their just a table spoon of shell grit. I fill this feeder up daily. sometimes on the 2nd day. but it is ALWAYS completely empty if i wait the 2 days instead of doing it daily. it is the large feeder which holds 4 kilos ! they also get vegetable "scraps" and hot peas and corn almost daily..... and they odd treat of meal worms, or parrot seeds (which is for my cockatiels but i throw a handful to the chickens because they always look like they are begging me when i am feeding the birds). i use the term scraps loosely, but in reality it is fruits and veg that i buy specially for them mixed with fruit and veg that i find in the fridge that i think they will like mixed with chopped and grated scraps that are suitable for human consumption but i have in excess while making dinner.

They also free range most of the day. Some days they dont get out but thats only when i am working heaps.

I've started buying 25 kilo bags of feed because they eat a lot.

But how much does a chicken ACTUALLY need ?!
maybe i can save on some costs by knowing how much they NEED rather than how much they DO eat.

they ALWAYS have crops which look like they will burst. and they do turn their beaks up at a lot of foods. they are fussy but love what they love.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:54 pm

Can wild birds and or rodents get in to their pen and eat their food? That is A LOT of food. OR Maybe they are having a growth spurt before they start laying?

BigFishLittleFish · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:11 pm

wild birds can not get in.... but rodents can if they want to through the fence and wire. the food is high up and hung really high now they are taller. It probably wouldnt stop rodents if they really tried, but i haven't seen any evidence but i can safely say there IS mice around here. (everyone has birds cages and aviarys including me, around this block) but i fill the chicken feeder in the mornings... not much food in there at night)

They have always eaten a lot... and trust me when i say they also POOP a LOT !!! heaps ! it's sometimes really sandy looking. like if i hose it off the path it is grainy like the pellets. so maybe undigested food ? they a poop machines.

They do love their food. and i keep feeding them because i love them and i know they love food. and they love me when i have their food... haha. sometimes. They still like to peck and attack me and arch their necks and show their dominance sometimes. but they are sweet mostly.

Chickababe · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:21 pm

Hello BFLF,

I have no idea how much a chook is supposed to eat but I have found the same with my girls, even my little silkie goes to bed with a crop feeling like the size of a golf ball. As for my Isa she's a piggy puss. Cleans up everything like a Hoover. She too will go to bed with with a crop about to burst. I too feed them left overs with greens, porridge, cracked corn and fruits. They also go through a lot of feed too.

humongous poop too from peaches.

BigFishLittleFish · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:30 pm

So i say it is normal....

I cant believe they are not fat.... still thin under all those feathers. I wish my body worked like a isa brown. (says the grumpy person who hasn't had chocolate for 6 days ! health kicks are not fun)

Maybe if i didnt feed them all the time they wouldnt be so fussy and eat what they are given. some of them eat cracked corn and some wont. some will only eat fresh or frozen corn. only 2 eat sunflower seeds. and none will eat them worms i throw in there. yet love meal worms.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

I say it is normal too...

Because the Isas are a breed that is mainly bred to pump out the eggs their little bodies require as much nourishment as possible to keep the mass egg production up.

I would have to agree with HH that they would be going through growth spurts and their appetite would be insatiable but you wait until they are actually producing eggs BFLF, then they are even more aggressive to get more food off you. :shock:

When I bring a bowl of veggies into the yard, my Plymouth Rock doesn't stand a chance. My 4 Isas crowd her out like she is competition and then start trying to dominate over each other to get the most from the daily offering.

I just love every time I go out into the yard and they come running from all corners to see if there is more in my hand

I cant resist but picking them up and giving them cuddles all the time, and they just sit in my arms like that is their natural place to be. :lol:

So essentially, the more you give them the more they will eat, but ultimately as long as you have their feed dish full, so they can constantly graze from it, and give them a bit a free ranging each day ontop of your scraps each day, they really don't need any extras because the grain/mash has all the nutrients they require.

But hey...you know if your not restricted to one special diet you always like to have a variety so I think what you are feeding them sounds wonderful [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

You've done a fabulous job BFLF so I say don't change

BigFishLittleFish · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:08 am

more agressive for food.... :shock:

i'm scared to think what i am in for.......... hide:

It is funny.no matter how many time you walk outside they think every time you are carrying food and come charging from the bushes or wherever they are hiding or free ranging.... so funny.

and if i call "chook chook chook" they ALWAYS come to see if i have food. but promptly leave if they see none. but i can call again and they will come running again to check. can do it 50 times in a row without food and they will always come back to check if there is any.... LOL

I also cant help but cuddling them when they are near. but my girls DONT sit still for cuddles. they still must hold grudge for all the times when they were younger that i had to pick them up and dose them with medicine or medication on their eyes etc... which obviously hurt them but was for their own good. [smilie=18_13_1.gif]

They dont mind a pat though and i hold them more and more to get them use to it... but they just freeze when i have hold of them and dont move until i let them go. sometimes another chicken will come and check out that the chicken in my arms is ok... :-D

they arnt scared of me though and will walk all over me. they just don't like to be held that much. even with a food bribe. they wont eat out of my hand if i am holding them. they frozen chickens.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

I guess different breeds have different food intake requirements, Araucana's are very frugal eaters.

BigFishLittleFish · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:07 pm

I've got the piggies of chickens then... :-D

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Our neighbour had Isa Browns and her "girlies" used to sneak under the fence to meet our rooster

until Mr. Fox had them for his breakfast one day

I used to chook sit them to get eggsperience before I got my chooks and they did eat a lot!

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