cannibalism, I dont undersand

[VanUnamed]

I let them out of their tractors today. I do hope that nothing bad happens and that they keep eating their feed at the same rate as before and not just eat grass

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I let them out of their tractors today. I do hope that nothing bad happens and that they keep eating their feed at the same rate as before and not just eat grass

My fingers are crossed for you, and hope nothing bad happens. Are you able to monitor the flock while they're out and about?
I think that if your resident fox gets in, she will likely only kill what she can carry out of the enclosure - one, or two at most. Foxes don't normally eat on site - they kill, then carry it away to eat or bury for later. That might be a small price to pay to save what you have left, if keeping them confined with their already-learned cannibalism would cause you to lose even more birds.
Roaming dogs, however --- different matter altogether. Yikes.
I still recommend adding more tractors, or a more secure pen, coop, enclosure, whatever... to keep them protected but with more space. Can you repurpose a shed or any building temporarily? Scrounge or repurpose any materials for a temporary pen? Borrow an unused tractor or rent space from a neighbor? Pallets, old fence planks or wall boards, tree branches, scrap metal roofing or siding ..... Just trying to come up with ideas.

 

[3KillerBs]

it seems odd to me. birds in industrial settings here, are kept in about 1sqf per bird on concrete no enrichment and they don't eat one another.

Commercial birds are both bred to "tolerate confinement" and are managed intensively in conditions that the average backyarder can't necessarily duplicate.

Also, once the cannibalism has begun -- for whatever reason -- it often becomes a habit that can't be broken.

 

[Fallenone05]

I let them out of their tractors today. I do hope that nothing bad happens and that they keep eating their feed at the same rate as before and not just eat grass

When mine forage and free range they tend to eat grass and bugs for a while before returning to the coop to eat feed, get drinks, eat a little more, and then going to eat grass again. They have their own little internal cycles where they forage and return to eat feed multiple times per day.

 

[VanUnamed]

they have been out all day. they seem to have eaten about half as normal. I hope i am not putting them on a diet at least they should be less stressed

 

[BarnyardChaos]

they have been out all day. they seem to have eaten about half as normal. I hope i am not putting them on a diet at least they should be less stressed

They should eat only what they need, don't worry about that. Chickens lived for tens of thousands of years in the jungle and forests - they instinctively know what food they need. Consider it will save you money on the feed bill! Glad they are okay. Did they seem less stressed when you put them back in their tractors?

 

[BarnyardChaos]

they have been out all day. they seem to have eaten about half as normal. I hope i am not putting them on a diet at least they should be less stressed

Oh! Look at this article I found by @Mountain Peeps!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...a,can for you flock with this new information.
Here's just one excerpt:
"Amazingly, grass provides approximately one quarter of a chicken’s daily nutrient requirements resulting in them eating less feed. Therefore, you will spend less money paying for feed. Grass is high in protein, carotenoids (beta carotene), iron and vitamin E, B6 and C, and a variety of other minerals."

 

[VanUnamed]

they are in an area where there is alfalfa in patches other than grass

 

[Fallenone05]

they are in an area where there is alfalfa in patches other than grass

https://poultry.extension.org/artic...edients-for-poultry/alfalfa-in-poultry-diets/

Seems like alfalfa is good for them too.

 

[3KillerBs]

they are in an area where there is alfalfa in patches other than grass

They'll love that.

Alfalfa is better quality feed for them than regular grass.