Chickens suddenly eating more... like A LOT more.

[tiffrosef]

I have been feeding my chickens fermented feed for a few months now, and they were all eating very little of it per day (about 1/4 to 1/2 a cup each) now they are all eating nearly tripple that! I haven't changed anything drastic or anything like that. Just what used to last them all day is now gone in an hour, so I feed more, then that's gone too. I keep feeding them because they act like they're starving to death. They are all roughly 23 weeks right now, some are a few weeks younger than that.

Am I being suckered by my chickens? Will they just keep eating if I keep feeding? Cause I have only noticed it happening the last three weeks or so, we have been blowing through their feed really quickly.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Maybe they're ramping up to begin laying?

 

[tiffrosef]

As stupid as this sounds, I did not think of that...

 

[tiffrosef]

We also switched to layer feed from grower feed... so I am just not thinking straight right now. That probably plays a part too.

 

[Den in Penn]

It is fall and if they are out free ranging then it could be that they have started to clean out their range of easy food.

 

[tiffrosef]

My neighbors dogs prevent me from free ranging them they already tried to eat one of my birds while I was out there with them.

 

[gtaff]

Mine are eating more too. I was wondering if it was the change of seasons. Can you do something maybe to add a little more protein so they do not eat as much?

 

[tiffrosef]

I actually added more calcium and protein. I gave them a few cans of beans and some oyster shell and that seemed to do the trick!

 

[nellielou]

New to this group. Just wondering; I thought I read beans weren't good to give chickens?

 

[threescompany]

New to this group. Just wondering; I thought I read beans weren't good to give chickens?

I think you aren't supposed to give dried beans, cooked ones are ok. Here is a great --- list https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens