PhantomSlayer
Songster
We have a chicken flock of 14. The oldest are probably about 10 weeks old as of now. The youngest 2 are 5 weeks old. The rest in between. We have been hanging a feeder for them refilling every other day with a 44 oz container. Its roughly the time it takes for them to eat it all. We had a goose who was eating it too but sadly she passed today due to an accident so the amount might drop.
Anyways their free range with lots of wild black berry bushes, some large trees and and lots of overgrown brush. They spend alot of time out there laying in the brush where I cant get to them because ouch theres thorns lol. Anyways free range and full access to a feeder. And I do go in at 9-9:30pm after their up on the roosts to fill a water dish and dump some food enough to cover the bottom of the bowls for the night. Should I continue giving them food and water at night? Their usually let out by 8-9am by my parents since I'm still asleep.
And tonight in general my runt chick was looking up at all the others on the roost i cant seem to get her to go up herself so i've been putting her up there with the two she wants to be with and tonight I noticed the crops on a brahma and wyandotte looked large. Which makes me wonder even more if I should be giving them extra food at night? I would like to avoid any crop issues. Their not showing any breathing issues or less active but I don't do a morning check on their crops before their out and foraging and I can't catch 90% of them during the day until after their relaxed on roosts
Were still having some cold late 30's F nights so I can see giving them food access on those nights for the extra warmth but what about nights with warmer temps?
I'm just worried. Also worried because my runt chick didn't seem have that big of a crop so its conflicting. Shes always been behind but shes doing better than before. Today I saw her out with the brahmas and easter eggers in the brush acting like a chicken it made me happy lol.
What do others do feeding schedule wise. And honestly what are you supposed to look for in potential crop issues?
Anyways their free range with lots of wild black berry bushes, some large trees and and lots of overgrown brush. They spend alot of time out there laying in the brush where I cant get to them because ouch theres thorns lol. Anyways free range and full access to a feeder. And I do go in at 9-9:30pm after their up on the roosts to fill a water dish and dump some food enough to cover the bottom of the bowls for the night. Should I continue giving them food and water at night? Their usually let out by 8-9am by my parents since I'm still asleep.
And tonight in general my runt chick was looking up at all the others on the roost i cant seem to get her to go up herself so i've been putting her up there with the two she wants to be with and tonight I noticed the crops on a brahma and wyandotte looked large. Which makes me wonder even more if I should be giving them extra food at night? I would like to avoid any crop issues. Their not showing any breathing issues or less active but I don't do a morning check on their crops before their out and foraging and I can't catch 90% of them during the day until after their relaxed on roosts
Were still having some cold late 30's F nights so I can see giving them food access on those nights for the extra warmth but what about nights with warmer temps?
I'm just worried. Also worried because my runt chick didn't seem have that big of a crop so its conflicting. Shes always been behind but shes doing better than before. Today I saw her out with the brahmas and easter eggers in the brush acting like a chicken it made me happy lol.
What do others do feeding schedule wise. And honestly what are you supposed to look for in potential crop issues?