Flock Block Opinions?

[wild chick]

I got one of those Flock Blocks (for chickens & turkeys, 9% protein) at Tractor Supply and put it way out for my free range chickens to find. They did and they are hooked on it. I only wanted it to get them further out and away from the house and horse barn. It worked, but they seem so fixated on it I feel like they might be eating too much too fast. There are 16 females from 9 months to almost 3 years plus the rooster and they've eaten almost 1/4 of it in 3 days. Their consumption of layer feed is about half. They have 7 fenced acres but only use less than 2 at the most, which was why I was trying to entice them out further. I cover it with a bucket for the night, and didn't take the bucket off until noon today and as soon as I uncovered it they've spent lots of time on it. Thoughts?

 

[paneubert]

20 pounds if I recall? I mean....not ideal food source, but you have a good number of chickens pecking. 5 pounds in 3 days spread over the number of chickens you have is not THAT bad.

 

[WindingRoad]

I got one of those Flock Blocks (for chickens & turkeys, 9% protein) at Tractor Supply and put it way out for my free range chickens to find. They did and they are hooked on it. I only wanted it to get them further out and away from the house and horse barn. It worked, but they seem so fixated on it I feel like they might be eating too much too fast. There are 16 females from 9 months to almost 3 years plus the rooster and they've eaten almost 1/4 of it in 3 days. Their consumption of layer feed is about half. They have 7 fenced acres but only use less than 2 at the most, which was why I was trying to entice them out further. I cover it with a bucket for the night, and didn't take the bucket off until noon today and as soon as I uncovered it they've spent lots of time on it. Thoughts?

I hang mine either in the coop or the run. They will peck at it but don't seem obsessed Now mealworms that's a horse of another color. If I put down their feed morning or night and there are no mealworms in it. They will literally squawk loudly until I put mealworms on their food. And then walk away and not eat for a few minutes. Crazy birds.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

You could just leave the bucket on it for a few days. Maybe take the bucket off a few times a week or whatever feels right to you.

My birds liked the block but didn't go crazy over it either.

 

[wild chick]

You could just leave the bucket on it for a few days. Maybe take the bucket off a few times a week or whatever feels right to you.

My birds liked the block but didn't go crazy over it either.

I'm leaning toward this idea, moving it out further and keeping the bucket over it. They are pecking and scratching further out now and have not been hanging out in the barn or me having to run them off the porch of the house. But they really are crazy/obsessed with the block. They scratch all around the bucket, when it's covered.