Hens on a hunger strike

[bittyflock]

My hens have always been GREAT layers and have eaten layer pellets ever since beginning to lay. Just this winter, they went from having a pretty voracious appetite to eating next to nothing, still laying nice eggs though less frequently (no surprise given the season). I keep trying new food and it changes nothing. Weirdly they don’t seem to have lost weight and I am so perplexed by their behavior! We give them a very small amount of treats and let them free range for an hour or so per day, but I can’t figure out what the heck they are eating to keep weight on especially in colder weather! My husband‘s theory is they are eating alfalfa - but is that possibly enough to keep them going? Any recommendations?

 

[mcdze]

theyre likely finding something theyre woofing down out ranging .. i'd try to figure out what it is, i mean, finding a dead possum carcass out back theyve been munching on could be terrifying if your eating the eggs lol ...

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd cut out all the treats and continue to provide the feed they were previously eating without issue. Do check the mill date on the feed as well as using eyes and nose to ensure it looks and smells correct, in case feed spoilage was the reason they stopped eating it.

And they can eat alfalfa so that could be making up part of their diet.