Chicken Doesn't Like Food?

[BunnyHen]

Today when I was going to feed the chickens, I found one chicken standing in the shade. The other 3 were in front of me wanting food. I set the bowl down along with some veggies. The 3 chickens were eating fine, but the other one walked of under a tree and sat there. They are 4 months and all female. Is something wrong with the chicken? Or is it the food?

 

[BunnyHen]

I checked the crops and all of them were empty except for one of them.

 

[galanie]

She'll eat when she's hungry. If the other three were eating it, then nothing is wrong with the food.

 

[devora]

You can leave feed out 24/7 for them and they will take care of themselves. Chickens are excellent at moderating their own diet. Then you can give treats/veggies when you like.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

They will fill their crops over and over again if you leave the feed out. The most dominant chickens sometimes get to eat first- it could have been that. Their crops aren't very large and thus it is beneficial to leave food out for them. You can make a treadle feeder or buy one if you are concerned about wild birds eating up their feed.

I leave the food in the coops for my chickens as it reduces the chance of attracting wild birds.