I am not sure how long after feeding them scratch it affects their metabolism, I just know it raises it. In my opinion if it has been working so far I would stick with it. All in all it sounds like a good idea to me. My coop is a deep litter type coop so I use my grass clipping instead of pine...
So far so good with my ladies. I have two large sisso trees over the coop and run with only a couple terracotta bases for them to cool their feet in. Have not put out any ice in but they are doing good so far. They pant durring the day, not heavely.... but even without ice in the terracotta...
They just don't seem to like it. If they go into the garden they go crazy and eat everything, but if I pick stuff from the garden and put it in the run they will not eat it
I have issues with my chickens eating anything but their feed or scratch. I will pick things from the garden or scraps from the kitchen and throw it in the coop. They will pick at the items for a second then leave it alone.
I have to second the comment about locking them in the coop.
I was having the same issue for about 6 days they would not go into the coop. Even if I put them in the coop they would sleep on the ground. I was going out of town and did not want any surprises so I locked them in the coop for...
Thanks for the help. I was getting a little nervous since I live in the city and my neighbors would not appreciate a crowing rooster at 6am.
So far is has been a fun adventure
I am new to the chicken raising and not sure if this 5 month old RIR is a hen or a rooster. The only reason I think it is a rooster is one morning I heard some attempted crowing in the morning. I have not hear anything since and it has been about 4 days. the other reason is the larger comb, but...