How Much Should You Feed Chickens Daily?

#backyardchicken #homesteadingforbeginners #jerseygiant
On our homestead, we are dedicated to learning to live a little more self sustainably week by week. While we learn (because we are beginners), we have made a focus on helping others learn the lessons as we learn them. The way we’re doing this is by creating videos here on youtube to show what we are doing right and what we’re doing wrong.
Currently we own 5 acres and it is our homestead dream to put all 5 acres to work. We have several backyard chicken breeds, to include Barred Plymouth Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Ameraucana (blue egg chicken breed), and Jersey Giants (the largest chicken breed).
We can’t wait to add geese, ducks, turkeys, sheep, goats, and maybe a mini-cow or two, to our homestead. So, If you are dreaming of starting a little homestead or micro farm, consider checking out our videos. The goal we have for this channel is to serve our viewers with helpful educational videos about homesteading for beginners, how to start a homestead, how to garden, how to raise sheep and other farm animals and so on. Thank you for checking out the channel!
Links to some helpful supplies:
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Chicken Feeder Ports: amzn.to/3Q9MZBd
Solar Powered Coop Light: amzn.to/3AIaECN
Nest box grass: amzn.to/3cCU5Ap
Thermal Waterproof gloves: amzn.to/3e4IPwU
Best mouse trap: amzn.to/3CLuWhz
Egg Trays: amzn.to/3CQkpSn
Ceramic Heat lamp: amzn.to/3RbO64r
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To support the channel some of the links above may be affiliate links. Statements on this site do not represent the views or policies of anyone other than myself.

[@allthingznatural5592]

This is the second video that I have watched today where they get haters in there comment section. The first was a professional chef with more than 30 of cooking experience who recently retired financially successfully from his job. These miserable people that do that is miserable in their own life! This is good information because when I had chickens I let them eat all day until they wobbled like a duck. So this information will help me tremendously when I get my next batch of chickens. And I would be willing to bet that your haters don't even own a dam chicken so keep up the good work! And I can tell you have a passion for what you do and you are a good chicken dad! USA Oklahoma

[@rochellehultsman4895]

I've wondered if some of the terrible comments are AI generated to simply piss people off. It's divide and conquer when it comes to shitty people and their agendas

[@shaneburfield3196]

I don’t understand why people make everything so complicated.

[@kenyonbissett3512]

Take with a grain of salt, I’m hearing there is something wrong with store bought chicken feed. It doesn’t have the protein needed for chickens to lay eggs. This is contributing to the egg shortage. One farmer is soaking, cooking and then allowing the cooked pinto beans to continue soaking, eventually adding macaroni to the pot then feeding to his chickens. He is getting a little less than an egg a day per chicken as you might expect. As the weather is changing there are also bugs, grubs, worms, etc coming out. A cheap source of protein to feed. As the weather continues to heat up, consider soaking/fermenting grains. Another cheap source for summer are black soldier flies (bsf). The larvae can be dried or frozen to feed in winter. And, a high protein food is duckweed, it can be grown in a baby pool (or pond if you have one). The duckweed can also be frozen, then thawed for winter feeding. There are lots of how to videos of growing bsf larvae and duckweed.

[@Radhaun]

I've seen this number before, I do wonder if this is only applicable to birds that don't free range? My birds have about an acre of forage space (11 adult birds) and they only sometimes eat all the food I put out. So I wonder if the quarter pound of food is the standard for enclosed birds only?

[@AvalonWoodsHomestead]

Thank you, the actual measurements are very helpful and I appreciate that you have done this. I'm going to try it out tomorrow morning. Thanks again I really appreciate your content.

[@Matilda73]

Love your videos they're down to earth and real 😊

[@Justme-jy7vo]

Really,I think you should reread what you wrote

[@stevehottinger7537]

I have 7 hens, all are just 24 weeks old and have been laying for about 4 weeks now. Every day they get the table scraps and about a half cup of fermented feed. A hanging feeder with pellets is available if they require more food. (They barely eat any). I let them “free range “ in the yard about two hours before sunset every day. I’m getting 4 to 6 eggs every day recently and it’s December! The girls only eat what they want. I don’t have a rodent problem since the run is secured with 1/2” hardware cloth and no food is on the ground. The egg production is amazing even with Decembers cold and short daylight hours. I attribute that to the nutrition they receive. Perhaps the lack of eggs is the result of trying to “ration” the feed. Healthy table scraps put in the mix would probably help.

[@phoenixloftfarm5352]

This is Great we all Definitely show raise farm animals as a livelihood and also as companions, whether it will be for food or straight pure love, let’s do it together ! 🤙😇 you are awesome man keep doing chicken things

[@pitchkettle]

I agree!

[@meganvancaemelbeke]

Extremely grateful for this share, thank you!

[@brandineissl9243]

Great video! I am most likely overfeeding mine too! I give them dandelion greens and fresh grass and a handful of oats along with their food! I guess I need to slow it down a little! Keep up the informative videos! Can't wait to see what else you have!

[@Ninjadude87534]

Amazing video

[@katee2231]

Excellent video very informative.

[@dedikfarm1128]

thank you for the knowledge, it is very useful,, greetings from friendship, I am an Indonesian breeder

[@adhdbusybee]

Love this video, thank u for the valuable info❤ New to chicken keeping, so I definitely appreciate this

[@shahedayeasmeen8089]

I have been searching for this. Now I see that I am feeding way more than they need it. Thank you for sharing it. Can you please show how much oyster shell chickens need per day. Thank you.

[@ezrabrooks12]

Good Work/Info.

[@valaoftheriver]

I really appreciate how thorough and well researched your videos are; we don't have chickens (yet), but this gives me an idea of the kind of things I'll have to consider in the future so thank you! Just curious, do you find the chickens are good at sharing food or do they compete? Is there a way to make sure each one gets their 4oz, aside from watching them and maybe weighing each bird? I used to volunteer at a shelter where they had recommended amounts to feed an entire room of cats, and inevitably some bullied the others and ate more. But they're completely different critters.

[@SpinDizzy-fr8bc]

I can't add anything special to the main food ration i put out. The hens have fav ingredients they will pick out and eat. The result is a lot of wasted ration on the ground and a few fat bottom girls that begin lagging in egg production. I usually throw the scratch out in the run so they can "scratch" for it while I clean and fill the waterers and feed bins. Keeps them out from under my feet. I do keep my feeders topped up so I don't monitor daily food intake. I'll try weighing it for a few days and see exactly what is being eaten.

[@lisagayhart2482]

I added chopped hot dogs and they started laying two days later.

[@RoseCityReptilesTX]

*knock knock Hello, Thanks for making this video

[@justinsane7128]

I made one of those buckets and when it was sitting on the ground the rodents were definitely in it, then I hung it up and they don't seem to be in it as much

[@chulasexychica11]

They now come with cover too i also hang it.

[@Memorylanehatchery4202]

You can add spoonful-per chicken-per day or every other day or so of game bird 30% protein to their feed. Just for a small bump in protein.

[@alinafilipescu4458]

If one measures the feed, but the chickens don't end up eating all of it, then what is the point of measuring? It seems that they are not overeating to begin with it, at least the chickens in the video are not. Just thinking out loud, as I'm honestly pondering on doing this or not.

[@sharonhatcher4797]

With 6 chickens in free range 1/2 acre they eat what they want. Some weeks they eat more feed when can’t find grass and bugs enough. Always keep feed and water available. Supplement with treats: dried worms, yogurt, and fruit and vegetables. If not confined, they can eat well

[@saskya314]

Thank you 🙏 for this video. This is exactly what I was needing. I have a question- is that brand of feed you use the best ? I am using Dumor brand . I have 8 chickens 2years old now. Egg production is always uneven. I have treated them lately for being egg bound. Starting to experience deficiencies on them. I’m trying to do the best to have them healthy.so I was considering changing their feed to the one you use. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thank you 🙏 again

[@CookieCrumbFun]

This has got me thinking now... Do we overfeed our girls? We may. What about the pecking order? Those at the bottom, would they get their fill?

[@ReadTheBible33]

Oh Me Too! Man I have 19 chickens and and we go through $90 of food a month.

[@dennisking4589]

Seems that they would eat first until full...not eat past full and take from the next.

[@SopheaSam-rd7wi]

❤❤❤

[@destinyschild8515]

I think you're right about chickens eating a certain amount each day. But don't they self regulate their consumption? I have 4 hens and carry out a jar of feed daily to top off the feeder which remains about 1/4 full. Seems about right in mild weather. Lately in the cold weather it looks as though they're eating more to keep warm because I have to put an extra jar full in about every 3rd day to keep the feeder 1/4 full. I don't think I have rodents getting in the run because it is gated and surrounded by 1/4 inch hardware cloth in the ground and half way up. Plus its wrapped in plastic for the winter. But with the increased consumption I was worried about mice. So I thought I might cover or bring the feeder in at night just in case it's mice. Or I could just look at the feeder level when I lock them up then see if there is any difference in the morning.

[@joseponcedeleon4866]

I definitely over feed mine, snacks and others , a bit spoiled

[@lorenaroma]

How much for 13 - 1 week old chick's?

[@matildafinlayson9618]

what did you add in with there food ? was that corn ?

[@offgridsolitude]

Are you still feeding the same amount? Im wondering how its been working out over the past 9 months . I wonder if less food leads to less eggs.

[@stevehottinger7537]

I had the same conclusion! See my reply to the video I posted today.

[@charliesweb1k]

Let’s see if I can figure this out if I have 170 chickens how many pounds of feed is that?

[@bend3rbot]

2 score and 3

[@Damselfly54315]

Whats in ur scratch mix?

[@cristinabaskar8331]

Liked & subscribed u😊 Nice & to the point video, Tanq. Am beginner & just been 6 months Can u please tell in grams for 1.5 pounds??, I got 2 light susex hens & 4 hyline hens. Also since 2 months started deep litter method & winter ends in September in NZ. If u do deep litter too, please do a video for It’s hygiene / maintenance/ daily care & can /cannot use cleaning products, if it’s safe to use 1st?? Whoa it’s not easy job to hand backyard hens, phew… but am enjoying spending time n they’re too cute & l call them my babies😜. Thanks in advance for your tips.

[@TheComingGlory]

Hope you don't lose any birds to predators as I don't see any hardware cloth (HC). Chicken wire is made to keep chickens in not predators out. If you use at least 1/2 HC mesh, you will not have to be concerned about rodents getting to your feed as they cannot get through the mesh. Also, the HC should be on the ground in the coop and extend out about 2.5 to 3 feet outside the coop to keep weasels and other predators from digging under the coop.

[@marilynweber7957]

They just dig under - ask me how I know - I have holes all over the chicken yard . . . going to start picking up all the feed at night since I have been feeding out of those self feeders too. . . Hardware cloth does keep out the things like skunks, possoms and what not, but not rats or mice . . .

[@eileennavarrete9459]

Point of interest. Soy beans, meal is 47percent protein. If your feeding 1 cup scratch 1/3 rd cup sprinkle or mix to your blend. Another much loved, sunflower seeds small black ones and an extra treat mealworms, very expensive might want to grow your own.

[@gallodejalisco1814]

Gracias , miramoa tus videos siempre , saludos desde Mexico, puedes recumendar una encuvadora

[@2nostromo]

My chooks eat all the food I offer. 5 hens and 1 cock have 1/4 acre free range and each gets 100g pellets unless I'm being generous. I spoil them and that isnot good. they should be eating the grass and veg that Iplant for them. but I like to interact them. You will know if they really are hungry.

[@donniecarter4981]

I personally would switch to laying pellets instead of crumbles.

[@pitchkettle]

We've tried. They won't touch the pellets.

[@winniecash1654]

​@Pitchkettle Acres Homestead mine too. They dislike pellets

[@d.a.tsun5104]

We tried pellets on our chickens, they barely touched it. We tried chopped grains, the chickens picked and chose the grains they liked but squirrels were the problem. Squirrels stole and stored different types of grains in different holes in the ground and came spring, we had patches of oats, sunflowers, corns all over the yard. We tried crumbles, chickens scratched and scattered it to the ground - again it attracted squirrels and mice. We now switched to smaller pellets from Nutrena. Both the chickens and I like these pellets. To me, it's the smell: herby/spicy. I sometimes soaked the pellets in water or milk, the chickens love that even more. We also remove the left over foods at dusk when they go to bed. No more waste, squirrels or mice (we trapped the few that still come and feed them to our cats).

[@junaidkhalil2833]

Is it ok to put chicken feed/grains on ground to feed chickens.

[@stevesilver7437]

Yes!

[@bend3rbot]

I prefer to scatter. Mine have a large enclosure and mulched ground cover from my tree pruning to about 2 inches depth. Scattering keeps them active and busy scratching and hunting. In a purely agronomic analysis it might rob me of egg size, but I'd prefer them occupied and busy that just hovering at the coop for our presence daily. Scratching is their normal behaviour and can be employed to process your mulch into soils. It definitely hides the poops!

[@lauriegarland5728]

Would you need to feed the same amount if they are free range?

[@pitchkettle]

No, if they free range that drops the feed amount needed.

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

The advice varies from grams to pounds and ounces which leaves me more confused! 🙃

[@pitchkettle]

Same haha

[@EC-dz4bq]

Your math is flawed in the sense; it depends on the environment of your chickens. Example... if you free range them and live in a great environment full of worms, insects etc... you can easily over feed them still. I say this, as while I feed mine the same feed etc as you have (I get it cheaply off chewy)... My neighbor lady just free ranges hers fully and just provides treats/supplemental food. Mine lived in the same environment and just got fat and lazy. (unhealthily so) this is @ 1/2 cup per hen/day