Free-range pullets not eating feed

[Ms Miami]

I'm a bit concerned. My ladies are roaming quite a bit under supervision and are eating well, but they are not touching their feed. Is this okay. They are eating lots of bugs, lizards, compost veggies and weeds. They are very happy, but are only 7 weeks, should I limit their roam time in order to get them to eat the medicated chick feed?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

They should be fine. If you keep offering the food to them for the full 18 weeks, they should be fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not an expert, but I think the bugs, lizards, and grasses are fine, but the compost veggies might not have enough protein for chicks. They need 18-20% protein right now, and if they are eating a lot of peelings, that may limit their protein. Bugs and small organisms contain good protein, but it might depend on what is in the compost veggies I guess. What many people do is to make sure they get to fill their crops right before bedtime with chick starter/crumble so they can get the nutrients they need if they don't get all they need during the day. If they are not eating before bedtime they must get enough free-ranging.

 

[Ms Miami]

Thank you. They are eating more bugs than scraps. Thankfully with the warm Florida mid-day rains there are plenty. The girls also suddenly took interest in their feed today. Sometimes you just need a little reassuring. I very much appreciate the comments.

 

[centrarchid]

In all likelihood the forage they are getting is superior to the feed allotted. Simply reduce the amount of feed offered and replace that loaded into feeder once it has been there a couple of days to keep it fresh. Continue to monitor the feed pan so that when they do start going after it you can bump the allotment appropriately.

Also consider the possibility you feed has gone bad.


If they do start having need for nutrients that current forage range cannot provide and your feeding does not compensate, then birds will start to range farther which can get them into predator or neighbor troubles.