Free range hens and chicks not eating feed.

[Jorn]

I have 2 x 1 year old Wyandottes. 1 had a very heavy molt about 9 weeks ago and hasn't laid an egg since. The other stopped laying about 6 weeks ago when she went broody. This one was broody for a couple of weeks when a friend gave me some fertilized eggs to put under her, which hatched 4 days ago.

Both hens have dropped a bit of weight since they stopped laying, this coincided with them eating minimal layer mash. No change in feed, stored in an airtight container. Have since got fresh feed but they're still not very interested in it. Otherwise seem healthy, the molting one has lovely new feathers and red comb. The broody's comb a bit pale and feathers a bit tattered but put that down to being broody for 5 plus weeks. These are backyard chooks and free range all day.

Since the chicks have hatched, they've probably only eaten a spoon of chick starter. They free range and forage all day with their 2 mothers.

Should I just presume they're getting what they need from free ranging? The hens will readily eat scratch and corn but have held off in case this makes matters worse. Also wasn't sure if it would be suitable for chicks. I have seen both hens breaking off pieces of grass for the chicks and helping them scratch in the dirt.

Other question is - now that both hens are sharing the parenting, does it mean we have little chance of getting eggs in the foreseeable future?

Any tips/advice greatly appreciated.

Jo

 

[Ridgerunner]

This article explains how long molting can take (up to 6 months) and how to tell if your hens are fast molters or slow molters. If your hens return to laying after only 9 weeks after starting a molt you are quite lucky.

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

You can safely assume the hens and chicks are getting all they need by free ranging. The one thing I'd look for is what are the egg shell's are like when they do start laying again. Odds are they are getting all the calcium they need from the rocks they pick up as grit and the hard-shelled bugs they are eating, but if the egg shells are thin, you might want to offer oyster shell free choice. If the egg shells are hard, there is no need to offer the oyster shell.

I'm not familiar with your situation with the two hens working together like that. Usually a broody will not let another hen near her chicks. I guess since here are only two of them, they worked out a special accommodation. I don't know if this will delay her starting to lay again. I would think not and that your problem is the molt, but I really don't know.

 

[Kiwibird]

I have two hens sharing broodiness right now - weird, and a little like your situation. First one was broody so I took the other away. The second one went broody in its new home within 24 hours. The first one missed the second one and hopped off the nest. I put them back together and they are each intermittently broody and each intermittently laying. They eggs are covered at all times. They will only sit in one nest box.

The fact that they both still lay from time to time suggests to me that this shared broodiness is a "shallow" broodiness, and they will get back to normal quite quickly - so your hens who are sharing care of chicks may also have a "shallow" bond with the chicks and get back to laying faster. Here's hoping, anyway!

As for the chicks eating - a chick's yolk can sustain it for up to three days, so eating is really just practice in the early days. It is only about now that it becomes a serious business for these chicks. Keep observing, and I'm sure you will soon see them eating more.

 

[Jorn]

Thanks guys.

The broody hen has not had a molt yet. The hen that did molt, did so quite drastically. Was bald right down her neck back and underside of tail. Lost her tail and flight feathers soon after. The poor thing looked as though she felt downright degraded!

They definitely share the mothering. The chicks keep popping out from under the "Aunty's" wings. If mum is sitting down for a rest, they will forage with "Aunty" or jump all over her back. All 4 sleep in the nest box together, and there isn't even any chook poo in there in the morning.

I got both of the hens from the same clutch and before one went broody, they never left each others side. When one was laying the other could often be found waiting outside the box for her to finish. The non broody would often join the broody in the nest box while she was incubating the eggs.

Anyway, my main concern was that they were getting the nutrients they need by free ranging. Although if they weren't, it's not like you can force feed them. I guess I should be happy that I am saving on feed.

Fingers crossed then for some more eggs soon. Have had to go out and buy eggs for the first time since they started laying.

 

[MissPrissy]

Corn is like candy. Of course they will readily eat it. LOL If they are free ranging they are getting a full diet of bugs and vegetation. Keep a little feed out for them, offer them some scratch as a treat. Most chickens will not over eat. For the one who was broody it will take her longer to bounce back. You might offer her a little something extra - like a tbsp of wet cat food every other day. The raised protein should help her recover. Chickens need animal protein and when one has lost weight and is showing molting or feather loss added protein in their diet helps repair that.

 

[Jorn]

Would wet cat food or tuna, like I have in the past, be a problem for the chicks? And is scratch OK for the chicks? Because I am sure they will pick it up since they are sharing the space with the hens.

 

[MissPrissy]

I would put out some starter for the chicks. Momma will teach them to eat - she may eat some of the starter, too. Chickens are meat eaters so yes, they will eat the cat food or tuna, too.

 

[Jorn]

They all have access to food. They just choose not to eat it! Layer Mash and oyster shell for the hens, out of reach of the chicks. Chick starter low down for everyone.

So cat food is OK for chicks? Is scratch OK for chicks? They are only going on 5 days old. But very sprightly and already growing their wing feathers. They hatched early too, at 19/20 days.

 

[MissPrissy]

They will eat scratch if they see momma eating it. It won't hurt them but remember it is like crack to all chickens - big or little.