Feeding non laying chickens

[mmww621]

Hello all! We have a small flock of four chickens. One of our Easter Eggers who is about 2.5 years old has not laid an egg since last fall. Her eggs were super funny when she did lay so I kinda figured she had an issue with her repro tract. She's a very friend bird and lets my kids carry her all around so I'm not sure yet if I'm going to "rehome" her. But I do know I'm tired of feeding her layer feed... She's big, bossy, and pushes the others off the grain when I fill feeders. We let the girls free range over 5 acres most of the day and I fill 2 feeders once a day with layer feed. Is there a less expensive option for feeding the slacker? Can she live off the land since she's not producing?
Thanks for any input!!

 

[HEChicken]

I have a hen who lives off the land. She decided to live with our sheep and follows them around the pasture. Hasn't been in the chicken coop for months which means she hasn't eaten any chicken feed for months and instead has been surviving on the bugs and vegetation available to her in the pasture. How you achieve this when it is only one of four and not her choice, I have no idea!

 

[RJSorensen]

I suppose if you are in for a penny, you are in for a pound with this one. I understand that she is 25% of your feed bill, but you only have four birds. So I suppose either you will need to make a management style change, or just keep feeding her.

These small flocks seem to come up with situations I neither could nor would dream up. Not an easy answer for sure.

RJ

 

[6of6chicks]

Dunno - that's a tough one. Guess it comes down to which is more valuable - the joy that comes with having a pet OR the return on your investment.

If she's a friendly pet that your kids love, you might be stuck with her. After all, plenty of people have indoor cats and I can't for the life of me see the point in those, so it must be love.

But if you have the expectation that your animals earn their keep in some way, then maybe it's time to let her go. My chickens are young and not laying yet, but every time I'm out there scrubbing poop off the roosting bar I remind them that I thoroughly expect them to pay me back with eggs someday.

No right or wrong either way. You just have to decide what your priorities are and go with it. But I don't think you can cut her off from the feed. She's had a lifetime of you providing for her and to expect her to suddenly live off the land isn't realistic or fair. She may be a "slacker," but your responsibilities to her as her owner are still the same regardless of what she gives you in return.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

With four birds, what sort of feeders are you using that require filling daily? It sounds like you may have more waste going on than just the "slacker" bird.
That aside - how are you intending to prevent her from consuming commercial feed? Are you proposing to lock her out of the enclosure the other three have access two to keep her from being able to get to the feed? If so, that is a bigger concern than whether or not she can find enough sustenance.

Hello all! We have a small flock of four chickens. One of our Easter Eggers who is about 2.5 years old has not laid an egg since last fall. Her eggs were super funny when she did lay so I kinda figured she had an issue with her repro tract. She's a very friend bird and lets my kids carry her all around so I'm not sure yet if I'm going to "rehome" her. But I do know I'm tired of feeding her layer feed... She's big, bossy, and pushes the others off the grain when I fill feeders. We let the girls free range over 5 acres most of the day and I fill 2 feeders once a day with layer feed. Is there a less expensive option for feeding the slacker? Can she live off the land since she's not producing?
Thanks for any input!!

 

[Going Quackers]

I feel it would be tricky, while completely free ranged, live off the land sounds ideal i think i would be worried of becoming deficient. Personally, 4 birds don't eat much.. and if she's a good companion seems to me she is repaying her room & board just differently.

Maybe a different style feeder is needed? what do you have now?