Chickens lost their appetite

[yrrehs]

Hello -
I have 5 Buff Orpingtons who are 1 1/2 years old. They have been neglecting their layer crumble for the last month. They aren't eager to eat, period. They will eat berries and their scratch feed, but they aren't very enthusiastic about anything, and they aren't gobbling up the layer crumble, as they have always done in the past. The whole group is doing this. I tried buying a fresh bag of crumble, but it didn't make a difference. Also, their egg production is down to an egg a day - sometimes two. Help!

 

[liz9910]

Hi,

from California! Only thing I can think of regarding the chickens not eating their regular food is you could be feeding them too much scratch/and or treats? Scratch is like candy to chickens and should only be fed sparingly. Since the daylight hours are shorter now, egg production will slow way down this time of year.

 

[yrrehs]

Thank you. I will take everything but their crumble away, and see if they will eat it then!