Hello! Our six chickens range our Oakland yard all day, have free choice granite and oyster shell, handful of BOSS 1x/wk, and are being given the same organic pellets that I have always given them. They are a little over a year old and have historically gobbled up all the food I have given them (about 4 cups a day?). Lately, they hardly even eat 2 cups/day between the 6 of them, and they don't seem to be drinking much either. Of course, this means 50% fewer eggs. They do appreciate weeds that I throw them from a different part of the yard (dandelion, nasturtium), but they've already decimated their favorite weeds in their stomping grounds. This makes me think that they're thirsty, but then why aren't they drinking water? They are particularly interested in puddles of water in the dirt, but I can't tell if they like it more because of the edibles floating on top or if they are actually drinking. They look healthy to me, but these are my first chickens ever (had them since Feb. of this year).
Because they free range they are eating more than you know....probably drinking more than you know too....I wouldn't worry.....all of my animals eat less when it's warm....~Charm1704