Help - my friend doesn't want me to feed the chickens at all tomorrow.

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you are concerned about your three chickens, take them home and care for them in the manner that you see fit.

As for her chickens, if she doesn't want you feeding them, then your don't have the right to feed them.

X 2 - and if you have true concern for their well-being you will need to go through teh appropriate channels for those concerns. At the end of the day, they are her animals and she has given you express instructions regarding them. Just because her feed program isn't the one you would choose there is no way to say that it is/isn't appropriate with what you have posted thus far.

 

[enola]

How are you so sure they are starving? I can go to my coop 4 times s day and every single time, the hens mob me to see what I brought. They are not hungry, they are simply making sure that they get to whatever I brought them before any other hen gets the goodies.

 

[RavenEh]

How are you so sure they are starving? I can go to my coop 4 times s day and every single time, the hens mob me to see what I brought. They are not hungry, they are simply making sure that they get to whatever I brought them before any other hen gets the goodies.

x2 - I have a PVC pipe feeder and every time I come out, I give it a good shake to bring the crumble up to the top rim. The chicks can reach all the way to the bottom to get the feed, and it is always more than half full, but when I shake it they come flying over like they're starving to check out what is coming out.

It also sounds like too much treat to me - I would be very upset to find out someone was feeding my chicks or my dogs without my permission. Especially if it was all dessert.

Maybe you could ask your friend what she wants them to eat, and how often and comply with her rules? They are her animals and its great that you love them and want to help, but you need to respect her wishes.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How are you so sure they are starving? I can go to my coop 4 times s day and every single time, the hens mob me to see what I brought. They are not hungry, they are simply making sure that they get to whatever I brought them before any other hen gets the goodies.

Exactly.
Again, OP, if you feel these animals are being abused and/or neglected there are channels for that - but it is not *your* judgement that will determine this, if you do go through those channels be prepared to learn that your perception of what is right and the legal definition may be two totally different things - and, if that is the case, be prepared to have lost the friendship you have now -- guarantee if I had a friend who a) went against my express wishes and fed my animals without my permission and/or b) decided to report me to the authorities in what was determined to be a non-issue case there would be no more friendship.....so be SURE of what you are doing. There is a big difference between not wanting one's animals to be filled full of junk and actually neglecting/abusing an animal - and a wide gap between controlled feeding and starvation.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We are making the assumption this has to do with the chickens’ health. It may be something else entirely. Maybe someone tracked in stringy cheese and ground it into the carpet. There may be unsightly melon rind laying around. Perhaps the concern is that the food scraps will attract mice (which attract snakes), rats (which can attract larger snakes), raccoons, skunks, possums, or something else. There are all kinds of reasons someone would not want so much garbage thrown into their back yard that it builds up.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

We are making the assumption this has to do with the chickens’ health. It may be something else entirely. Maybe someone tracked in stringy cheese and ground it into the carpet. There may be unsightly melon rind laying around. Perhaps the concern is that the food scraps will attract mice (which attract snakes), rats (which can attract larger snakes), raccoons, skunks, possums, or something else. There are all kinds of reasons someone would not want so much garbage thrown into their back yard that it builds up.

All true - and these would certainly be on my list of objections should someone feel they had a right to start mucking about with my animals - at the end of the day, it doesn't matter WHY someone doesn't want another person feeding things to their animals, only that they don't. The assumption of health likely stems from the OPs assertion that the birds are "starving" and that is why they feel so compelled that they "simply must" feed them.

 

[Wynette]

If you feel that strongly and your friend feels equally as strongly...why not sit down & come to an agreement?

Find out WHY she doesn't want you giving them so many treats. Find a way to communicate with her why YOU feel so strongly that they should get the treats you're so anxious to give. Then....try to come to a compromise. Just a suggestion.

 

[PapaChaz]

I agree that while it sounds like OP's heart may be in the right place, not your place to feed someone else's animals. If you're concerned with the 3 that are yours, then get them out. If you think hers are not being fed/taken care of properly, call the local ordinance office and talk with someone who deals with animal control. But I am in the same boat rowing the same direction as most here are, if you were feeding my chickens that kind of menu more than a couple times a WEEK, much less 3 times a day, I'd run ya off too.........

I'm also very curious about the 'chickens eat morning noon and night' comment as well, because my chickens pretty much scratch around and eat about all day...

 

[TalkALittle]

I bet you would enjoy growing sprouts and fodder for the chickens. Both are perfectly acceptable for chickens to eat. You might ask your friend if you can grow some for the chickens. There is much less chance that she'll object to them being fed wheat or barley sprouts a couple times a week. And growing something nutritious for them feels quite gratifying.