Chicks are not eating their feed _ HELP!

[turtlesback]

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie here and to raising chickens. Can someone help me out...my 9wo chickens seem to not be eating their feed. They are free range and go to their coop at night. My 4 yo gives them her egg and watermelon leftovers and some nuts. They come running when she calls them. Should I be worried? Should I stop the treats? Please help I want them to grow good and healthy. THANK YOU!

 

[swamphiker]

What kind of feed are you giving them? If they have access to a lot of bugs and veg to eat they may not need a ton of feed, especially if it is the middle of summer where you live.

Leftovers and some healthy treats (fruits, veggies, things like mealworms or black soldier fly larvae) are fine, but if the nuts are salted you'll want to keep them to a minimum.

 

[turtlesback]

Thank you for your reply swamphiker! It's summer now here in Ontario, Canada. They're on starter. I've seen them catch bugs and run around while the other chase them. Its so funny. I seen theyre scratching at the ground with their feet looking for bugs too. Their poop looks green and brown. Ok thanks the nuts are salt free soaked in water. I bought some mealworms which were very expensive here and they just basically broke em in half and didnt even care to eat them.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie here and to raising chickens. Can someone help me out...my 9wo chickens seem to not be eating their feed. They are free range and go to their coop at night. My 4 yo gives them her egg and watermelon leftovers and some nuts. They come running when she calls them. Should I be worried? Should I stop the treats? Please help I want them to grow good and healthy. THANK YOU!

My chickens are free range and don't go through their food much either. They get morning treats every day and afternoon scraps sometimes, but I see them eating so much of the vegetation and bugs, and they aren't skinny so I don't worry about it. Unless they're losing weight, they're probably fine.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie here and to raising chickens. Can someone help me out...my 9wo chickens seem to not be eating their feed. They are free range and go to their coop at night. My 4 yo gives them her egg and watermelon leftovers and some nuts. They come running when she calls them. Should I be worried? Should I stop the treats? Please help I want them to grow good and healthy. THANK YOU!

You know what I did when I first noticed the feed was lasting longer, I checked for divits in the feeder. Anything that would indicate activity. Take a picture of the feed before bed time, and then compare it in the morning and then afternoon and see if it looks different. If it does at all, they're eating!

 

[turtlesback]

Thank you FunnyBunny 89! Theyre getting bigger and very talkative about the treats and come pecking at the back door for my daughter, they really love food. No their not skinny let me find a pic of them...

 

[swamphiker]

It sounds like you have some lovely spoiled chickens! I mean that in the kindest way, it's wonderful that they are foraging on their own. I agree with @FunnyBunny89, if they are a healthy weight, they are likely fine. Most chickens are excellent at self-regulating.

They may not be super tempted by dry mealworms when they have live bugs available; they may change their tune come winter. I raise my own mealworms for chicken treats which is much less expensive, but requires upkeep.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

It sounds like you have some lovely spoiled chickens! I mean that in the kindest way, it's wonderful that they are foraging on their own. I agree with @FunnyBunny89, if they are a healthy weight, they are likely fine. Most chickens are excellent at self-regulating.

They may not be super tempted by dry mealworms when they have live bugs available; they may change their tune come winter. I raise my own mealworms for chicken treats which is much less expensive, but requires upkeep.

Yeah some of my chickens love dried mealworms and some eat only the dried shrimp, won't touch the mealworms. To each their own!

 

[turtlesback]

heres a pic

 

[turtlesback]

You know what I did when I first noticed the feed was lasting longer, I checked for divits in the feeder. Anything that would indicate activity. Take a picture of the feed before bed time, and then compare it in the morning and then afternoon and see if it looks different. If it does at all, they're eating!

That is a great idea! Im going to take pictures tomorrow!