How do you feed chickens without waste?

Raising backyard chickens is becoming an increasingly popular hobby. Fresh eggs every morning make the early wake-up call worthwhile. However, keeping chickens fed can lead to a lot of waste. Chickens are messy eaters by nature. They scratch through their feed searching for their favorite morsels and toss aside the rest. This leads to wasted feed and money. Finding ways to prevent waste when feeding chickens takes some creativity and planning.

Why is chicken feed waste a problem?

Wasted chicken feed creates several issues:

• Money – Chicken feed costs add up quickly. Wasting feed unnecessarily drives up costs.
• Moldy feed – Leftover feed lying in the run or coop can grow mold.
• Rodents – Spilled feed attracts mice, rats, and other rodents.
• Fly hatching – Flies lay eggs in moist wasted feed.
• Dirty coop – Feed scattered on the ground makes the coop dirtier.
• Nutrition – Chickens miss out on balanced nutrition when they only pick out certain foods.

Finding ways to minimize waste saves money and keeps the coop cleaner and healthier.

How much should chickens be fed?

Overfeeding is one of the primary causes of chicken feed waste. Chickens naturally will eat as much as they can. However, not all chickens need the same amount of feed. Feed requirements depend on several factors.

Chicken age

Younger chickens need more feed than mature chickens to support growth and development. Here are approximate daily feeding amounts based on age:

• Chicks under 8 weeks – As much starter feed as they can consume in a 15-minute period, offered 2-3 times per day.
• 8 – 14 weeks – 1⁄4 pound of starter feed per bird.
• 14 – 18 weeks – 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 pound of grower feed per bird.
• Over 18 weeks – 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 pound of layer feed per bird.

Egg laying

Laying hens have higher nutritional needs. They require about 1⁄4 pound of feed daily. Non-laying hens only need 1⁄8 pound per day.

Weather

Chickens eat more in cold weather to generate body heat. Increase feed amounts by 10% – 20% in winter. Decrease feed in summer heat when appetites lag.

Free ranging

Chickens with access to pasture forage don’t require as much feed. Reduce feed by 10% – 20% when chickens have ample free range time.

Weigh a sample of your chickens weekly and evaluate body condition. Increase or decrease daily feed amounts gradually to maintain ideal weight.

Offer feed more frequently in smaller portions

Chickens are naturally grazers. They prefer to eat small amounts throughout the day. Feed tends to get wasted when very large portions are provided at one time. Chickens will scratch through a large pile of feed looking for their favorite morsels. Much of the feed gets scattered on the ground.

A better approach is to offer smaller portions multiple times a day. Start with the recommended total daily amount for your flock. Divide this into smaller portions. Offer the feed in spaced intervals throughout the daylight hours.

For example, a flock of 10 chickens between 14 – 18 weeks old would need about 4 pounds of feed per day total. This could be divided into three feedings of around 1 1⁄3 pounds each, spaced a few hours apart.

Spreading the feedings out prevents gorging and gives shy birds a chance to eat. Adding this routine will result in less wasted feed.

Use feeding techniques to reduce waste

Certain feeders and techniques can minimize scratching and spills. Here are some tips:

Choose the right feeder style

• Trough feeders – Long throughs limit space for scratching. The lip contains spills.
• Tube feeders – Chickens reach in to get feed. Less scratching room.
• Circular feeders – Rotating design makes scratching harder. Covers prevent waste.

Place feeders appropriately

• Set feeders at chicken head level. Feed must be accessible but not spilled on the ground.
• Raise feeders on stands or blocks. This prevents scratching under them.
• Place feeders away from perches and walls. Chickens knock them over when flapping up to roost.

Try spacing feeders far apart

Chickens frequently switch between feeders in search of something better. Spreading feeders far apart in the coop prevents hopping from one to the next. Carry this out at each feeding time.

Remove treats from main feed

Chickens selectively peck treats like corn kernels from feed mixes. Sift out treats and offer separately after feed is consumed.

Clean up spilled feed

Promptly sweeping up spilled feed removes temptation to scratch it out of the litter.

Consider pellets or crumbles

Pelleted or crumbled feed is more difficult to selectively scratch through. There is less waste.

Scatter feed occasionally

Although scratching increases waste, it is a natural behavior important for chicken health. Allow free-range scratching occasionally by scattering a small portion of feed in the run.

Use feed supplements

Supplements added to feed or water can make chickens feel full faster and reduce total consumption.

Apple cider vinegar

Adding apple cider vinegar to drinking water reduces appetite slightly. Provide 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of water.

Probionics

Probionic powders contain beneficial gut bacteria that aid digestion. Healthy digestion improves feed efficiency.

Garlic powder

Garlic powder stimulates appetite just enough to encourage eating without overloading. Use 1⁄4 teaspoon per pound of feed.

Whey

Dried whey protein increases feed palatability so chickens eat less. Add 2% dried whey to feed.

Transition feed for older chickens

As laying hens near 18-24 months old, their nutritional needs change. They lay fewer eggs and need less protein and calcium. Switching to a lower protein, maintenance-type feed prevents overfeeding.

Here are signs it’s time to transition an older flock to a new feed blend:

• Laying drops to 70% production or lower
• Chickens gain excess weight
• Chickens show little interest in layer feed

Choose a quality feed designed for non-laying chickens. Both medicated and non-medicated feeds are available. The protein level should be 15-16% rather than the higher 18%-22% required for laying hens.

Introduce the new feed blend gradually over 1-2 weeks. This gives the chickens’ systems time to adjust and ensures they are getting proper nutrition.

Avoid common feeding mistakes

Sometimes chickens develop bad feeding habits that lead to waste. Be alert for these issues:

Overcrowding

Too many chickens make it hard for shy flock members to access feeders. Overcrowding also encourages aggressive behaviors like fencing other birds away from feed sources. Provide adequate feeder space and distribute feeders widely.

Stale feed

Chickens reject feed that is old, moldy, or insect-infested. Store feed properly and clean feeders routinely to keep it fresh.

No grit source

Chickens need grit in their gizzards to grind and digest feed. Offer an ad lib grit source such as granite grit or river stones. Chickens may waste feed if they lack grit to process it.

Sudden diet change

Abrupt feed changes upset digestion and lead chickens to pick through rations. Transition feed blends slowly over 7-10 days.

Incorrect feeder height

Feed waste increases when birds must stretch and scratch to reach. Check feeder height often as chicks grow. Raise to gently touch their mid-breast.

Insufficient feeder space

Overcrowding at the feeder leads to waste. Provide minimums of 1 foot of space per 3 chicks or 1 inch per large fowl.

Excess treats

Too many scratch grains or kitchen scraps decrease appetite for balanced feed. Limit treats to a handful per bird daily.

Consider feed options for egg-laying flocks

The ideal feed plan depends partly on your egg production goals. Here are common feeding options for layers:

Complete feed

This all-in-one pelleted, crumbled, or textured feed meets full nutritional needs. It offers balanced protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Makes feeding simple.

Whole grains plus supplement

Offer whole grains like corn or oats ad lib plus a protein/calcium supplement. Allows for selective eating but more waste.

Mash blend

A blend of grains, protein meal, and calcium sources allows self-selection. However, layers may not choose a balanced diet leading to deficiency.

Custom blending

Mixing a precise blend of grains and supplements can optimize nutrition. But, requires careful formulation and mixing.

Choosing quality complete feeds tends to produce the least waste. But, many small farms take the custom blending approach to cut costs and allow natural behaviors.

Prevent rodents attracted to waste

Spilled feed inevitably attracts rodents to the coop area. Here are tips to control them:

• Clean up wasted feed promptly.
• Store feed securely in metal cans or rodent-proof bins.
• Use feeders with limited access like tubes or covered troughs.
• Elevate feeders on platforms so scraps fall below.
• Set out mousetraps and bait stations as needed.
• Treat the coop perimeter with diatomaceous earth.
• Allow pets access to clean up scraps.
• Install rodent-proof skirting around the coop.

Rodents multiply quickly, so implementing preventive measures at the first signs saves significant feed loss.

Conclusion

Because chickens naturally scratch through their feed, some waste is inevitable. However, smart management and feeding techniques can go a long way in controlling loss. Consider your flock size, feed amounts, feeder style, and feeding schedule as starting points. Develop consistent daily routines to minimize spillage. Be willing to tweak your methods over time to keep improving. A little extra effort pays off in feed savings and flock health.