Chickens won’t eat feed

[Acre4Me]

A few cups of feed...cover it with water and leave it be for a couple of days.
That is it.
Nothing more.

Except..make sure you have a large enough container, so that you don't have a mess to clean up if it decides to ferment so much it leaves the container! I don't think it is like making bread, where it expands so much, but fermentation will cause some expansion.

I don't use FF bc I know we would forget about it at times. Also, whenever it is hot out, my chickens won't eat the wet feed after a few hours, I think because it starts to ferment. I'll even add water to it bc they like it pretty wet, but they still won't eat it after a few hours in the heat. But, I guess mine are a bit picky that way!

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Except..make sure you have a large enough container, so that you don't have a mess to clean up if it decides to ferment so much it leaves the container! I don't think it is like making bread, where it expands so much, but fermentation will cause some expansion.

I don't use FF bc I know we would forget about it at times. Also, whenever it is hot out, my chickens won't eat the wet feed after a few hours, I think because it starts to ferment. I'll even add water to it bc they like it pretty wet, but they still won't eat it after a few hours in the heat. But, I guess mine are a bit picky that way!

Hmm it is usually 97 for 2 months, 100 to 105 for 2 month the 97s for another month here and they like it no matter how hot it gets here. Mine like it not to wet, not too hard, picky about it. If i overfeed it when it isn't wet enough they will stomp it flat and then ignore it, so its a fine line to figure it out!

The recipe for mine is
A quarter cup crushed egg shells
Stick the hose in the bucket
In layers with a scoop i add
6 parts lay pellets 1 part chicken scratch, mix some if i feel like it,
And make sure to add more water than i think, the pellets absorb a lot, and to leave it 3 inches below the top, i use a 5 gallon bucket that lasts 2 days. I use pellets instead of crumbs even though it costs a bit more because the pellets let the water mix in better the crumbs make a glue, i guess because theres less air pockets for the water to get into? Adding the water first helps alot though.
I have on occasion added things to the water to experiment: yogurt, old juice, pureed cucumbers, vinegar... I had no reasons just felt like it... the chickens had zero opinions everytime.

Oh and i dont cover it, so it gets full of flies during the summer, which serves two purposes,. Kills flies and adds delicious proteins.

 

[Nofowlplay]

They are going to get sick before you have a chance to notice with all the treats and drop dead over night from fatty liver disease.

which treats would cause that?

 

[Kiki]

which treats would cause that?

All of them.
Anything you feed extra...that is not a complete poultry feed.

By feeding anything besides a complete feed you are not feeding them a balanced diet.

They will always prefer to eat any treats offered first and could possible fill up on them before eating the complete feed.

Think of it as you eating nothing but candy and chips and sodas all the time.
You may like it but is it good for you?

 

[Nofowlplay]

All of them.
Anything you feed extra...that is not a complete poultry feed.

By feeding anything besides a complete feed you are not feeding them a balanced diet.

They will always prefer to eat any treats offered first and could possible fill up on them before eating the complete feed.

Think of it as you eating nothing but candy and chips and sodas all the time.
You may like it but is it good for you?

Well......that is the reason for this post. They are eating the feed now. I started to add water. Seems though that chickens have enjoyed chicken safe table scraps and so on for years without problems. Not as a complete food source of course.

 

[Nofowlplay]

Hmm it is usually 97 for 2 months, 100 to 105 for 2 month the 97s for another month here and they like it no matter how hot it gets here. Mine like it not to wet, not too hard, picky about it. If i overfeed it when it isn't wet enough they will stomp it flat and then ignore it, so its a fine line to figure it out!

The recipe for mine is
A quarter cup crushed egg shells
Stick the hose in the bucket
In layers with a scoop i add
6 parts lay pellets 1 part chicken scratch, mix some if i feel like it,
And make sure to add more water than i think, the pellets absorb a lot, and to leave it 3 inches below the top, i use a 5 gallon bucket that lasts 2 days. I use pellets instead of crumbs even though it costs a bit more because the pellets let the water mix in better the crumbs make a glue, i guess because theres less air pockets for the water to get into? Adding the water first helps alot though.
I have on occasion added things to the water to experiment: yogurt, old juice, pureed cucumbers, vinegar... I had no reasons just felt like it... the chickens had zero opinions everytime.

Oh and i dont cover it, so it gets full of flies during the summer, which serves two purposes,. Kills flies and adds delicious proteins.

chickens like cucumber!

 

[Nofowlplay]

Chickens are creatures of habit. They have a habit of eating certain things right now, but they need to move to eating their balanced feed that has the right nutrients.

My chickens really think that wet feed is a treat!! They run over and practically lick the containers clean! I use pelleted grower feed, add water and wait 10 min...add more water if needed to a pancake batter consistency (their preference). I might stir in some scrambled egg or rehydrated alfalfa, and sometimes sprinkle some seeds or grains on top. Important to keep in mind protein percentages too. I use a 20% grower feed. Alfafa is 16% protein minimum, so their protein content is not taken below what a chicken generally needs (15-16% minimum).

True treats should be 10% or less of their food intake. However, at this point, you need to re-train them. Either give them only pelleted feed (and absolutely nothing else but that and water) or try a "treat" of wet feed. Try a bin with really wet feed - like thinner pancake batter, and another bin with thicker wet feed - more of a consistency of oatmeal (some BYCers find this is the texture preference for their flock) and you'll find out what your flock likes.

Good Luck.

So this is what is left so far today! I'd say the wet feed solved the problem! Then pan was nearly full this morning. I could not get them to touch it before. You are a life saver!

 

[Nofowlplay]

This is the empty feed pan from today! They love the wet feed! Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Acre4Me]

View attachment 1704171
So this is what is left so far today! I'd say the wet feed solved the problem! Then pan was nearly full this morning. I could not get them to touch it before. You are a life saver!

Yeah!! So happy for you and your flock! I’m glad they are eating!

 

[Nofowlplay]

Opened the pen door with the pan of feed this morning and they were all jumping up trying to grab a bite before I could even set it down! thrilled!