Can Chickens Overeat Feed?

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

This. Also don’t make my mistake. Two of my very healthy hungry roosters saw me open a bag of Purina Duck pellets and they jumped in the bag and gobbled some then drank their water. Those duck pellets expanded back up their throats and choked one rooster and I lost him. The pellets almost choked another rooster (whom I saved by holding him upside down and with my finger swiped the expanding food away from his windpipe.) I now feed only whole scratch in a bowl, but feed mash over a flat surface and withhold mash until it’s fully absorbed the liquid. And switched to Flockraiser which doesn’t expand as much.

I'm so sorry about your rooster! But I appreciate you sharing your experience--that's good to be aware of. Mine eat flockraiser (crumbles) and that's solely what I use for mash. But I will be extra careful about water absorption!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

When given access to plenty of food/water, chickens are "grazers", not "gorgers" in my experience. They eat some, crop gets full, and they go off to rest, scratch around, dust bathe, etc. and digest. Then they come back for some more.

 

[JCaseyHammond]

I'm so sorry about your rooster! But I appreciate you sharing your experience--that's good to be aware of. Mine eat flockraiser (crumbles) and that's solely what I use for mash. But I will be extra careful about water absorption!

Thanks lesson learned. My chickens don’t all gobble like that but I definitely wait for the food to stop expanding before serving it.

 

[JCaseyHammond]

When given access to plenty of food/water, chickens are "grazers", not "gorgers" in my experience. They eat some, crop gets full, and they go off to rest, scratch around, dust bathe, etc. and digest. Then they come back for some more.

Thanks, I wondered about grazers vs gorgers. Wish I could leave food out 24/7. I’ve had to restrict the chickens’ food so there’s nothing left over to the rats coming from the neighbors’ nut orchard. I’ve got a row of coops that will be getting their dirt floors replaced with gravel or concrete and half inch wire mesh to stop the rats from tunneling up. I’m putting together some rat proof runs to expand each coop.

 

[JCaseyHammond]

I'm so sorry about your rooster! But I appreciate you sharing your experience--that's good to be aware of. Mine eat flockraiser (crumbles) and that's solely what I use for mash. But I will be extra careful about water absorption!

Flockraiser should be fine. I just wait to serve it til after it absorbs water

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Thanks, I wondered about grazers vs gorgers. Wish I could leave food out 24/7. I’ve had to restrict the chickens’ food so there’s nothing left over to the rats coming from the neighbors’ nut orchard. I’ve got a row of coops that will be getting their dirt floors replaced with gravel or concrete and half inch wire mesh to stop the rats from tunneling up. I’m putting together some rat proof runs to expand each coop.

Do you leave the food out during daylight hours? That's really all they need...they sleep when it's dark out. But if you can't do that because of the rodents, yeah, that's a bit trickier.

 

[Rodrad]

Just wondering (as I watch the girls stuff themselves on their winter bedtime mash): can chickens eat too much feed? Are they like goldfish with no instinctual limit?

I always leave feed out free choice all day. Additionally, I supplement with small amounts of healthy treats (always less than 10% diet). This winter, in the late afternoon, before bed, I mix up a bowl of warm mash (feed + water and sometimes probiotics, herbs, and/or spices). I give them plenty to ensure the bottom rung girls get enough to eat. But they really eat it!

That has me wondering whether I should ration feed or if they will naturally cut themselves off. I can't imagine my girls cutting themselves off! I want them to be happy and healthy layers, and to prevent issues tied to obesity (while also ensuring they get the nutrients they need).

What are your thoughts? Does anyone ration feed?

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Wow, how pretty chickens! Off hand, I see golden Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red and Buff Orpington (?). What variety. Is the rooster? Is he a gentle one? If of our 10 pullets (Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock and Buff Orpington) we don’t get any rooster I would like to buy somewhere a young rooster like yours. (But he must be a gentle one - not to chase our grandchildren).

 

[WaveyCreekChickens]

I have to limit my chickens’ feed because I have one that actually does overeat. She has had crop issues multiple times. i also feed soaked mash in the early evening, and I noticed this particular bird will wolf down food, then turn away (I think when she is full), but then start running from plate to plate to try and finish all the leftovers. She is an exception to the rule I think, but I definitely have to watch her.
So now I feed twice a day, with a snack in between.

 

[saysfaa]

Thank you! I supervise free range them every day, weather permitting (too many predators and loose dogs around here). Usually 30 min - 1 hr, and wish I could do more! But they have a large run and keep themselves quite active

I do the exact same thing! Glad I'm not the only one

What do you do while you supervise? Watch, obviously, but do you call them back periodically or anything like that? Is it only to chase off predators or do you also keep then in a certain area or out of certain areas?

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Wow, how pretty chickens! Off hand, I see golden Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red and Buff Orpington (?). What variety. Is the rooster? Is he a gentle one? If of our 10 pullets (Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock and Buff Orpington) we don’t get any rooster I would like to buy somewhere a young rooster like yours. (But he must be a gentle one - not to chase our grandchildren).

Thank you, I'm blushing on behalf of my chickens! The rooster is a bantam salmon faverolle, and yes, he is a huge sweetheart to both his chickens and humans. He's also a source of nonstop entertainment and antics. In general, salmon faverolles (bantam and standard) are known to have calm, docile temperaments and are often recommended for those with small children. There are always exceptions, but I only have good things to say.

For example, he's always looking for treats for his ladies. Even if I give him one, he drops it and calls them over. One of my hens isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and often gets lost from the others when free ranging. She'll make this forlorn cry and he'll go running to her, find her, and escort her back to the others. He's also a great guard and alert system.