chicken feeding?

[TxChiknRanchers]

on the ground? in a feeder? why do they throw so much out of the feeder on the ground. every time I move the chicken tractor to a new spot there is a ring of untouched feed on the ground, mostly cracked corn and layer pellets.

 

[silkiechicken]

Chickens naturally flick through their food for the tasty bits so to stop that hang the feeder just above back height so they have to reach for it. Also, i'd nix the corn for warm months as it can lead to overheating.

 

[devora]

Wow, I’m surprised that they leave corn! It’s the only food I’m cautious about giving them. Partly b/c of the heat, but also b/c they would rather eat cracked corn than just about anything!

 

[silkiechicken]

Your birds leave the corn?

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Do they leave the corn? they wont touch it. they eat everything in the scratch feed but the corn. As a child I watched as my grandmother fed her chickens whole and cracked corn. so you can imagine my surprise! Maybe they know about the heat thing. go figer (i didn't, thanks) They scratch the ground under the feeder and sling feed out with their beaks, amazing. they do not seem to like the protien pellets either. They eat all the love bugs, or any thing else, that venture in the tractor with a vengence.

 

[6chix]

My chickens love the corn in the scratch feed. They aren't eating too much of the layer pellets, they would rather search the yard for frogs and other small animals.