hot weather and eating

[zerwitt14]

Will hens eat less in hot weather? Or has my increase in table scraps decreased thier interest in the feed? They are eating about 2/3 of the amount of grower than they were 3 weeks ago. It June and 85-90 almost everyday. Their water drinking has not changed. I have seen threads here on this, but when do I add layer feed? My flock is about 13 weeks old.

 

[Judy]

I'd add layer in 5 or 6 weeks, or a little sooner; whenever this bag runs out -- or you can mix the two feeds as a way of getting them used to the new feed. Mine eat less but drink more when it's really hot. They will definitely eat less if they eat table scraps, though. Be sure you don't mess up their nutritional balance too badly with table scraps. (You might need to remove some of the starch, for example, but give the fruit/veggie/meat scraps.) If it's hot enough that they mouth breathe and hold their wings away from their body, they will lose some moisture this way.

 

[zerwitt14]

How much is too much startch? They may get 3-6 pieces of bread that my kids feed them a day, 5-6 days a week we have 16 hens. I assume the grower has some startch. I have scratch of sunflower and safflower seeds they get maybe a cup of this tossed out 2-3 times a week.