Do you ever limit the chickens' feed to keep them from getting fat?

[FarmerChick]

I have close to 300 and I restrict feed definitely....but yes they do have outside runs and greens to forage. (not huge ranging, but access nonetheless) ---- I have great egg production.

I feed one time per day and load them up and yes they eat up....but then in the evening before I leave the barns for the night, I throw out some scratch into the pens for them to have fun with thru the night....not much, enough to keep everyone occupied.

I don't let anything free feed except what nature intended. But again, this is just my farm and how I handle our layers. But again, egg production surely has not suffered.

I know everyone does things different and that is the beauty of what works best for you. If I supplied 24/7 feed I would not be in business and from what my operation is, the birds are healthy and doing well.

Of course, I am in the south and our winters are not nearly like alot of people's winters. Climate location is a big factor in feeding also. I have green grass in my pastures still, bugs all around still....so being the south gives me more chicken friendly weather I guess.

 

[chickeepoo]

I'm now not sure which way is better- I've always had feed out available, but my hens were also free-ranging so they didn't eat it as quickly as now that they're in their run most of the time. I filled one of those 5-7 pound red and white plastic feeders yesterday, and they ate it down halfway on 1 day! I throw them extra greens and scratch, but I've never seen them act like they're STARVING like this. I posted earlier about the largest one that has a big mushy bottom and even tried extracting fluid in case it was ascites, but nothing came out. She's laying eggs, although she skips a day frequently so I don;t think now that she's eggbound or laying internally… could it just be that she's obese? Is Large Marge just a chow-hound?

 

[Wifezilla]

I really did not think the veggies and fruit from the crisper drawer or a few cups of leftover cereal would get them that tubby. I know they aren't getting any treats from DH because he will eat any bread that isn't actually green, and throws everything in the trash regardless of what it is . From now on, the wilted lettuces and stale cereal goes on the compost heap.

Woh there! You are mixing apples and Cheerios here. There is a big difference nutrition-wise between stale cereal and fruits and veggies. The cereal is just sugar. That will make your chicken fat. The leafy greens and fruit? I wouldn't worry about those as long as they have a good quality feed.​

 

[kodiakchicken]

Quote:
This seems like an awful lot of "extras" being fed to these birds. While free ranging is obviously best for all animals, the feed is formulated to provide everything they need in their diet and Blue Seal is supposed to be one of the best. Why are you supplementing so much?

I feed layer feed free choice (with oyster shell mixed in) and occaisionally throw out some corn for them to scratch for - especially if it's cold and they can't get out and free ranger.

Since yours are not really free ranging, I can understand the greens, but other than an ocassional treat, I don't really see the need for cooked grains, fish, hardboiled eggs, yogurt and fruit in addition to their feed.

 

[Rosalind]

Why are you supplementing so much?

I didn't used to--used to only give out fresh food once a week. Then when I got the Phoenix, they got special fresh homemade food several times weekly for their feather development. (Yes, I know, I know, I do in fact have that much spare time. Sorta.) Sometimes I just didn't have small enough Tupperware containers clean on Feed Cooking Day, so I'd throw it into bigger containers or freezer bags, whatever was around, and then when I'd defrost some there'd be leftovers, much more than four Phoenix could eat. So I started giving the leftovers to the "regular chickens," and they became much calmer, shinier, nicer feathering. I reasoned that therefore cooking double batches would be a Good Thing; although bear in mind that one batch of Phoenix Special Blend is going to feed 4 Phoenix and the other batch is going to feed 14 "regular chickens." They're really only eating about 1/3 as much supplement food as the Phoenix.​

 

[Napalongtail]

Hit the brakes here folks!!
I too have had standard cochins, and yes they do get fatter than my other breeds. Even though they too could range, had the same free fed pellets, and plenty of snacks. I am inclined after raising 100's upon 100's of birds in every shape and size imaginable, that some have slower metabolism than others.
Cochin hens in history have been used as "dual purpose" they also have a very important 3rd job. That is being a setting hen. How many people out there have had a hen who has set a clutch and come off the nest skinny?
Alot no doubt!
Search the forum and you will find multiple posts from frantic poultry people wondering how to get the weight back on their hen who is now sooo busy scratching and raising her young it just doesn't seem possible.
Sometimes in modern forms of capitivity, which is more often than not governed by things out of our control, animals die. Unless you house every bird seperately (and who does that) there is no way of customising a diet for every single bird. All you can do is provide proper nutrition, a safe place, and fresh water. Thats the reality.