Chickens not eating as much as usual

[Raptorsgocluck]

So I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or there is something wrong. The over the past week or so my flock don't seem to be as enthusiastic about feeding time. They used to jump at me to get to the food in the mornings and now they Peck a little and go do other things. A few things have changed in the past 2 weeks. I introduced a new rooster and I have expanded my fence to cover almost my entire 1 acre property (used to be only about 1/8 of the size). They all look and seem healthy except for one who seems lethargic. They all used to have full crops when I get home around 5 every day, now their crops only feel 1/4 full and some are empty. They are all still eating but don't seem to care as much about feeding time. Is this disease or are they just happier getting their food from foraging in the yard all day?

 

[sourland]

They have most likely cut back on the commercial diet because of the expanded foraging.

 

[Alaskan]

Look closely st the lethargic one.

Usually when a chicken looks lethargic the chicken is close to death.

As to the rest... how full are their crops when they roost for the night?

I am sure that they are getting most of their feed from the extra foraging area... but the empty crops and almost empty crops would worry me...

But maybe they are filling up on high protein bugs so don't have to stuff their crops???

 

[Raptorsgocluck]

To add to what I posted...I just went out to the coop to check crops. (I have 2 age groups, 1 year olds and 4 month old that are all together. 20 birds total) the adults had full crops and the younger ones had 1/4 full or empty crops. The lethargic hen is acting weird. She is sleeping perched but she has her head tucked into her wing. I couldn't reach her to feel her crop. The younger chickens stay far away from the new rooster. He is a bit aggressive. I also don't have any where around I can buy an all flock feed. I can either get layer or starter/grower feed. I have only been feeding my whole flock starter/grower.

 

[Alaskan]

The younger ones might be being bullied away from the feed (both the commercial feed and the bugs/foraging)

I would check to see if the young ones can get to the commercial feed... or if someone is keeping them away.

The starter/ grower is a good choice.

The lethargic hen.... no idea what is wrong with her.

 

[Raptorsgocluck]

Look closely st the lethargic one.

Usually when a chicken looks lethargic the chicken is close to death.

As to the rest... how full are their crops when they roost for the night?

I am sure that they are getting most of their feed from the extra foraging area... but the empty crops and almost empty crops would worry me...

But maybe they are filling up on high protein bugs so don't have to stuff their crops???

Some crops feel empty and some are 1/2 to 1/4 full Only on the young ones. The adults all have full crops except the lethargic one who I couldn't reach.

 

[Alaskan]

Some crops feel empty and some are 1/2 to 1/4 full Only on the young ones. The adults all have full crops except the lethargic one who I couldn't reach.

That makes it sound like it is a bullying issue.

I often have that issue when introducing young stock... I get around it by setting up 2 to 3 feeders and waterers.

And they must be placed far enough away from each other so that one bully can't patrol more than one feeder at a time.

You can also let the flock out to free range... and see where the young stock run to... and put out a pan of feed just for them, wherever it is that they are hanging out.

 

[Raptorsgocluck]

The younger ones might be being bullied away from the feed (both the commercial feed and the bugs/foraging)

I would check to see if the young ones can get to the commercial feed... or if someone is keeping them away.

The starter/ grower is a good choice.

The lethargic hen.... no idea what is wrong with her.

The younger chickens don't do much foraging, even before I got the new roo. They do get bullied at the food dish but before I got the new roo they always didn't care and just pushed their way to the food. He is a 10 lb barred rock roo. He doesn't seem to go after them too much but maybe just his presence is scaring them off from eating? If that is the case what can I do other than giving away my new roo?

 

[Alaskan]

The younger chickens don't do much foraging, even before I got the new roo. They do get bullied at the food dish but before I got the new roo they always didn't care and just pushed their way to the food. He is a 10 lb barred rock roo. He doesn't seem to go after them too much but maybe just his presence is scaring them off from eating? If that is the case what can I do other than giving away my new roo?

Put out 2 or 3 feeders and waterers... far enough apart so that the young stock can get to one of them.... so the new rooster can't stand by all of the feeders and waterers .

 

[Raptorsgocluck]

That makes it sound like it is a bullying issue.

I often have that issue when introducing young stock... I get around it by setting up 2 to 3 feeders and waterers.

And they must be placed far enough away from each other so that one bully can't patrol more than one feeder at a time.

You can also let the flock out to free range... and see where the young stock run to... and put out a pan of feed just for them, wherever it is that they are hanging out.

I have multiple feeders and Waters that are a good ways away from each other. They are always open to free range all day every day. The younger chicks don't really forrage much. They spend almost all of their time hiding in the bushes or under the shed. They really only come out early in the morning for about 2 hours after they get up and about 2 hours before bed. The rest of the day they are just hiding and only come out for a few minutes before hiding again