ANYONE NOTICE THE FLOCK SEEM TO EAT MORE IN THE COLD OR IS IT ME

[blueseal]

SEEMS LIKE THERE EATING ALOT LATELY. I HAVE 13 STANDARD BREED HENS AND 2 ROOSTERS. EATING ABOUT 50 POUNDS OF LAYER MASH EVERY 3 WEEKS.

 

[Cats Critters]

Mine do , probably for two reasons
1. They can't find mush of anything when free-ranging
2.They need to eat more to keep warm

 

[crazyhen]

They eat more in winter for sure. Also I give mine more scratch or cracked corn to stay warm with at night. LOL I eat more too. I guess its a natural reaction to the cold and being a bit bored while having to stay inside more. Jean

 

[AHappychick]

you could try pellets they would not get as wasted but they need it to keep warm and there is nothing else, I am in the same boat

 

[RedStickLA]

Yes they do...trying to stay warm.

I feed mine whole corn mixed with BOSS on really cold nights to help them stay warm...I throw some out late in the afternoon before they go in to roost. I also give them some in the morning on very cold days. It helps.
Mitzi

 

[cmom]

Yes

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I have 12 standard chickens and mine go through a 50 lb bag every two weeks (pellets)

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
That's it exactly. Grain such as corn and wheat are energy producing feed stuffs. The birds eat more of it to keep war ma dn to store energy for those really cold nights.

Mine are eating more. In the summer I'd fill the feed roughly every 4+ days. now it's every 3.

 

[farmerbrown]

I’m giving more info than is asked for with takes me off subject but it’s worth the knowledge I think.

All of my goats, cattle, chickens, and the 3 kids eat more in the winter. They need a balanced diet that is different then the rest of the year to up there metabolism. The cattle and goats want more protein, kids want more starch, and my wife is in charge of the chickens but I do know some.

Just off the top o my head;
Spring increase protein, calcium, fat and vitamin A, E, and omega-3 for mass egg laying.
Winter decrease protein and calcium if or as they decrease egg production. Increase calories.

Scratch is good for the calorie. If you’re looking to keep your chickens laying more in the winter read up on legumes and grain sprouting. This would take us to far off subject.

 

[Bock_Bock]

they eat more to build up fat to keep warm sorda like hybernating but they dont sleep for ever lol