Friend might be rationing her flock too severely??

[CountryPantry]

I guess my feeding methods must be terrible then. We have a 30 lb feeder that we keep reasonabley full.....they get two 3 gallon buckets of scraps from the resturant that a friend owns plus whatever we give them from our kitchen. There are 50 chickens and 3 turkeys. We only use 150 pounds of feed a month and our chickens are healthy and have started laying eggs again. Our only problem is a possum that is getting the eggs when the girls are out in the yard. Trying to figure out how he is getting in, but he is about to become dead. Son bringing over his gun and shooting him. LOL. bye bye possum!!!

 

[jjthink]

Marie, I know you are trying to weigh how you should feel about this. For me it's always easy because of a philosophy of treating every being in my care as I would want to be treated were I them. It's just the way I am - doesn't matter if it's a cat, bird or anything else.

So my birds get a nice variety and sensible amount of treats (sunflower seeds, fruits, veggies...etc), their 'regular' food available 24/7, fresh water at all times, comfy dry housing, lots of play time, good medical care etc. Most birds will not overeat (always watch for exceptions), will take what they need when they need it. I like for them to have that choice. I have cared for my roo for ~8 years now and he has fared brilliantly with that philosophy. The hens, not as long, but their problems seem unrelated, e.g., the dastardly internal laying business.

Your 'friend' doesn't seem like someone I would feel very warm and fuzzy about but we have no way of knowing all the other aspects of your relationship - we only see this small snapshot.

12 eggs, 12 hens, this time end year...seems pretty odd. If she is keeping a light on for extended hours (she may not be, don't know) it may force extra laying but I am amongst many who do not consider this a good thing for the health of the birds.

All that said, perhaps she is doing everything important to ensure robust health - don't know - but hope so.
JJ

 

[greathorse]

This person is getting twelve eggs a day the nutrition must be close to perfect. Depending on the size of the coffee can the birds should be getting around three pounds of feed per day. that is 4 ounces per per bird, just about average intake. I choose to feed mine free choice (too lazy to see how much they clean up per feeding) and they waste some for sure. I do throw them a few Boss from time to time so they get some excersize in scratching.

 

[granmahen]

Quote:
Mine like left over spagetti.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
Well Said

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Perhaps they aren't getting treats, but they might be getting kitchen scraps. I don't know anyone who doesn't give the chickens ( or some other farm critter) the leftover table food, stale bread, veggie scraps. Or as my dear old mama would say" take the garbage out to the chicken house." It was all edible to chickens and they loved it.
Also, if they are not free ranging, they are using less energy than yours are, so need less food. Bottom line: if they are laying, they are doing fine. Reproduction is the first to go if an animal is stressed.

I'm probably overfeeding mine too during the snows and cold, but that will stop as spring comes.

 

[little_grey_bantam]

Remember, some bird are BRED to lay that much.

A commercial egg layer (cheap BUT easily purchased from nearly everywhere) lays more eggs on preferably less feed
than a heritage breed.

It's kind of like comparing apples to... crabapples.
Yeah, so...
My Australorps (from the store) lay eggs EVERY day, my FBCMs and other birds that are non-hatchery lay eggs... well... in the winter... :-/ 2 hahaha, well not that bad, but they don't lay eggs EVERY day

sometimes they stop for a week or two! (like last 2-3 weeks!)

 

[tammyd57]

Maybe........the two of you have different definitions of "treats". She may be feeding all her table scraps, stale bread, greens, scratch etc. but doesn't consider that as treats, just "food". My chickens are only fed "food" but a wide variety, including what others call "treats". Just depends how you look at it. As long as they are healthy and laying they are getting what they need.