[Asaunders]

Ive really got into chickens since i started to help my dad and i always wonder if were doing the right things, we have around 20 hens and they have a big house/shed and a massive garden to roam, my dad feeds them layers pellets 1st thing in a morning around 6ish they have fresh water availble to them all day, and when i get back around 3 oclock i give them a bit more pellets, are we doing the right thing by feeding them twice a day?? or should the feed be left down all day for them to eat when they feel fit?

[Foxy]

leave it out all day, particulary as the days are long now.

[Asaunders]

can they not overfeed then f i say left it in a bucket for them??? or do u only put a bit it at a time?

[joyfull]

I leave pellets down all day and mine don't overeat, now if it was mixed corn or meal worms then they would 

[Rivereden]

We have a hopper left out 24hrs a day which is not the best idea. I would really like to bring it in at night and replace it first thing in the mornings. This would stop any rats or mice helping themselves. We are lucky enough not to have either around the chicken sheds mainly due to keeping some poison boxes down away from the chucks though.

They will only eat what they need before filling up. Water must be avilable at all times.

If you use a bucket and it rains then the food will be spoilt. Most farm shops sell the hoppers for around £25-£30 max