Chickens not eating much.

[Erikdaviking]

It’s my first winter with the chickens, I have 9 pullets and a rooster...they are still laying pretty well, I’m getting 3-5 eggs a day without artificial light. It’s been a mild winter here in Montana, minimal snow and warmer than usual. It’s still been cold, so I’ve been giving them about two cups of scratch grains for extra energy to stay warm...I scatter that in the chicken yard and they peck at it all day.

They have really slowed down on their regular food (layer crumbles), probably eating 50-60% of what they did in the summer.

They all are really healthy and look good, except the two that are molting. They look molty.

My question is are they just filling up on the grain, and if so is that going to be bad for them? They will eat if they are hungry, right? Should I watch for anything in particular?

Thanks!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They're filling up on the grain, which ends up lowering their nutrition all around

 

[rosemarythyme]

That is a lot of scratch for the number of chickens. I'd cut back on it so they go back to their regular feed.

You may want to reconsider feeding them layer as well, since you have a rooster - he cannot utilize the extra calcium in layer feed and there's a possibility it could affect his kidneys in the long run.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yup, you're feeding them ice cream and candy (scratch), so they aren't eating their mashed potatoes and broccoli. Tsk, tsk! Cut the scratch to about a quarter cup once a day and they'll go back to their balanced diet.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@rosemarythyme also makes a good point. When you have a mixed flock of layers and non-layers, it's a good idea to feed something like all-flock, with oyster shell on the side. The layers will help themselves to the calcium they need.

 

[Aapomp831]

2 cups is what I give my chickens everyday, but I have 50.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I agree that if you cut back of the treats, they will eat more of their nutritious feed.
They will probably keep scratching around even without the scratch.
You could add distractions/boredom busters to their run.

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree. Kids who get all the dessert they can eat won't eat the good, nutritious food that's necessary for their health.

Scratch is a treat. One cookie after dinner is appropriate. A dozen cookies instead of dinner isn't.

 

[Erikdaviking]

Ok! Sounds like way too much grain. I’ll adjust. And I hadn’t thought about the rooster eating the later feed...
Thanks for all the answers.