Bigger house eating more?

[Maine04657]

Ok about a month ago now I moved the chickens 18 and ducks 3 into a much bigger pen 24'x24' they got grass and lots of room to run around in now. When they where all in the little coop they ate one container of food ever two or three days. Now with all the room and eating more grass and bugs they are also eating one bucket of food daily? Any idea why they would now be eating at least double what they where?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Either they're still growing and supporting larger bodies requires larger amounts of feed or you gained some freeloaders (rodents or song birds). Do you collect the feed at night? Also, they may be spending more energy since they have more room to move around.

What is their ages? What are ya feeding?

 

[Maine04657]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Either they're still growing and supporting larger bodies requires larger amounts of feed or you gained some freeloaders (rodents or song birds). Do you collect the feed at night? Also, they may be spending more energy since they have more room to move around.

What is their ages? What are ya feeding?

We got them in March. The feed does not last till dark and I have a security camera that covers the whole coop and no visitors are getting in. I was considering the fact they are moving much more in this open space but they are eating grass and likely plenty of bugs so not sure the "extra" energy would be needed.

 

[paneubert]

Could also be wasting the feed by billing/raking it onto the ground and then not eating it. Have to checked the floor under the feeders to see if this is the case?

 

[Maine04657]

Could also be wasting the feed by billing/raking it onto the ground and then not eating it. Have to checked the floor under the feeders to see if this is the case?

No food on the ground.