Feeding chickens in winter

[Chris09]

Wyorp Rock we have a big metal barn and we made winter home for the girls in two horse stalls. During the summer they were pasture raised in egg mobile. Now they have a door to the outside but don't go out because of the snow. They are not sure about it I guess. We feed them organic layer feed. We follow the bag instruction for amount. Now in the winter we add some oats in the evening. However they only get fed in the morning the layer feed. Not for the rest of the day. I give them kitchen scraps in the afternoon and they have the oats in a separate hanging container available as well. It is usually empty when I get there with the kitchen scraps. Then we sprinkle little bit of oats on the ground before bed. I would say they are without food since 3pm till we sprinkle at about 6pm. And they are trying to get to food to their neighbors turkeys around the 6pm.

Chickens eat to fill there caloric need, when that need is met they stop eating until they need to fill there caloric need again.
When it is cold out they burn calories quickly and need to replenish there caloric need sooner and in turn need to eat more. By them trying to get to the turkey feed tells me that there not getting there caloric need.

If it was me I would full feed there layer feed, have it in front of them all the time and limit there treats (oats, table scraps etc.) to about 10% of there feeding and feed there treats in the morning.

 

[Amiti]

The info about caloric and feeding an evening to provide extra heat in winter was useful! I want the best for my girls!