Friend might be rationing her flock too severely??

[Paganbird]

If she's getting a lot of eggs & her chickens look good, I don't see what the problem is.
How do you know she doesn't feed them more?
If my neighbor told me that I needed to treat my chickens better & give them treats, I'd probably act just like your neighber did. It's none of my neighbor's business how I treat my animals or my children... as long as they're not neglected or abused, of course.
BTW... My chickens are fed well & get occasional treats... I doubt people see me give treats or feed them since it's 6am and I'm on my way to work!

 

[bigstack]

I dont agree with the friends methods either but If the birds are in a small area they are not getting the exercise to burn excess calories. Thus needing less feed other than to produce eggs and stay warm. I give mine free choice of feed, oyster shell, and grit aswell as table scraps and treats. even if and when confined for a day or so. (which is rare) but to each their own. If it works for you, Do it!

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[LyonFuzz]

Whether animals are pets or "livestock with a purpose", they deserve to be treated fairly and get everything they need to survive and be comfortable. Not feeding them properly is intentional neglect. I have to ask why anyone who chooses to keep animals that provide for you, why not make them happy? Seems the least we could do for them.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
If she is getting that many eggs a day they are getting what they need. A chicken that isn't getting the proper nutrition is going to quit laying very soon. Happy is a relative term. A chicken doesn't measure happiness the same way a human does.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Aww this just makes me so sad and sick feeling! I bet it makes you want to go over in the middle of the night and give them some treats. Poor things! You should show her this site and maybe she will see what she needs to see...how to take care of your chickens!
I'm thinking she may be lying to you about how many eggs she collects just to show you up maybe? Or do you SEE it for yourself?

 

[MareeZoCool]

Quote:
Honestly, my friend is very clever and kind to her animals. They are fed, dry & warm.
I'm the city girl gone wild, playing farmer girl. Butchering will be difficult, but I'm gonna have to do it - once we get more birds. These two are here for life! My next batch, those won't have such great relationships with me I'm learning, slow but sure.

 

[Chic Chick]

Quote:
Please think again! If you give your chickens too much in the way of treats they will not eat their balanced feed with proper protein levels , so you are making them malnourished . In other words you are mistreating your chickens!!
Please read up on their feed requirements before you make statements like that.

 

[patandchickens]

Honestly, without knowing what SIZE coffee can she's talking about, what is there to worry about?? If this is the big size coffee can then it is, in fact, probably quite an adequate amount of feed. And the proof is in the pudding so to speak -- if the chickens are healthy and of adequate weight and laying well, which sounds like it is the case, then what's the problem??

Just because there are two or more ways of doing something does not necessarily mean either of them is wrong

Pat

 

[Countrywife]

When I first got chickens years ago, no one told me I was supposed to feed layer feed, they said I needed scratch. So that is what I fed. I never got any eggs to speak of, but they were fat, healthy, happy chickens till a fox got them. That said, I believe if those hens were not getting enough food they would not be giving those eggs. I don't give my hens treats, but mainly because if it is meat leftover the LGD gets it, veggies and fruits the goats get. I have a working farm, not a bunch of pets. That being said, I treat all my animals with love and attention. I do walk out in the backyard, and if the girls are there give them all the bread in the house. I look after everyone with all the medical and feed requirements they need, brood pullets in the house and sleep with baby goats if neccesary. Everyone is different, but the simple fact that her girls are producing says they are getting plenty of food, in my opinion.

 

[StupidBird]

This has been a fascinating subject. I think I am feeding my five pet hens too many treats, and will cut back.

Adding my two cents worth, these first five are pets, no doubt about it. That's the reward they get for teaching me all about chickens, for helping to end prolonged bout of depression, for all sorts of things not related to eggs. I'm too allergic to be allowing dogs or any more cats (as I type this, our last cat is sleeping on my lap and keyboard). So the next ones won't have names, they will go in the pot when needed, I won't fret over every little squawk or sneeze.