Feeding chickens in warm weather

[usedhobarts]

Hi, I'm up in NW Minnesota. We transitioned from a very cool to cold spring to today being in the 90's. My chickens have access to cold water continuously. They are restricted to the coup for a couple more weeks. Their current diet available continuously is a mix of cracked corn, layer pellets and scratch grains. They get treats frequently, I freeze corn on cob from the garden in the husks every fall and had quite a bit still this spring. I husk a few raw cob and they all go nut over them and they get a variance of veggies and greens.
I read that cracked corn and scratch grains should be avoided when the weather is hot. Is this true. If so is straight layer pellets ok? Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Yes, stop feeding corn and scratch as these just increase and chicken's body heat. Switch to oats instead. Also, melon, your corn idea, ice cubes in the water, etc will all help keep them cool.

 

[usedhobarts]

Thanks, At what temp would you say I should cut out the cracked corn and scratch. Were still getting down in the 40's at night but today the coup temp is 86 and it's 93 outside. The coup is well ventilated but it gets pretty close to the outside temp

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I'd say stop now.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Hi, I'm up in NW Minnesota. We transitioned from a very cool to cold spring to today being in the 90's. My chickens have access to cold water continuously. They are restricted to the coup for a couple more weeks. Their current diet available continuously is a mix of cracked corn, layer pellets and scratch grains. They get treats frequently, I freeze corn on cob from the garden in the husks every fall and had quite a bit still this spring. I husk a few raw cob and they all go nut over them and they get a variance of veggies and greens.
I read that cracked corn and scratch grains should be avoided when the weather is hot. Is this true. If so is straight layer pellets ok? Any advise would be appreciated.

Layer pellets are a complete ration balanced to give them the nutrients they need. Mixing corn and other grains with the layer pellets dilutes the provided levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

It's a myth that feeding grains in the summer will make them hotter...

Bagged layer rations are mixed to provide the correct level of nutrients under average conditions and consumption. Extra grains can be useful to provide energy in the winter when consumption is well above average and they are already consuming the minimum nutritional requirements from their regular layer ration. In hot weather consumption can fall well below average and then it becomes hard to get them to eat enough of a basic ration to ensure their protein and mineral requirements are met. Feeding scratch grains on the side only exacerbates the problem.

 

[usedhobarts]

Hi, thanks for information. I was told layer pellets were a supplement . The chickens seem to like them over everything else other than maybe the greens and the raw corn on the cob. So if I'm reading you correctly your saying in the warmer months here feeding them straight pellets just fine? Thanks again.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Hi, thanks for information. I was told layer pellets were a supplement . The chickens seem to like them over everything else other than maybe the greens and the raw corn on the cob. So if I'm reading you correctly your saying in the warmer months here feeding them straight pellets just fine? Thanks again.

Layer pellets are formulated to be their sole ration.

Here's the long version:

Chickens eat to fulfill their caloric requirements. A typical layer ration is formulated to have about 1300 kcals per lb. At this energy level a brown-egg, cage free commercial layer hen will typically eat about .27 lbs (123 grams) per day when the temperature is 75-85 degs F.

A commercial brown-egg layer hen at peak production needs about 20 grams of protein per day and about 4.5 grams of calcium. If they are eating 123 grams of grams of feed per day then they need 20/123=.16 (16%) protein in their ration and 4.5 /123=.04 (4%) calcium in their ration.

If they are exposed to cold temperatures they need more energy (more calories) to keep warm, so they eat more. If their consumption is .30 lbs per day (136 grams) then the required level of protein and calcium in the ration goes down. 20/136=.147 (15%) protein and 4.5/136=.033 (3.5%) calcium.

Conversely, when the temperature gets above 85 degs F, then their consumption goes down. I'll spare you the math, but as the consumption goes down, the levels of protein and calcium in the feed need to go up...

I feed two large flocks and custom order our feed from the mill to my specifications. Relying on bagged feed you have to realize that a 16% layer ration is for average consumption in nice weather, 75-85 degs. Right now a 16% layer ration perfectly fits the bill. In the dead of winter you can probably add some scratch grains to dilute that ration a little. In the heat of the summer you'd have to encourage them to eat enough of that 16% ration, or switch to a 17% or 18% ration to get the required protein into them.

It needn't be that complicated, but a general idea of how weather affects consumption can go a long way toward deciding what to feed them.