How much feed for BBW?

[Serenity06]

I have a BBW hen that is now about 6 months old. I would like to keep her alive as long as I can because she's very sweet. I have read on here that the way to keep them as healthy as possible and not overweight is to limit their feed and ensure they can free range to get plenty of exercise. She free ranges 24/7 and I usually feed her a little in the morning and a little in the evening but every time I do feed her she acts like she's starving, scarfing it down so quickly that she sometimes chokes it seems because she starts coughing and shaking her head. She is on Dumor 14% Game Bird Maintenance crumbles. How do I know if I'm feeding her enough to keep her healthy but not so much that she'll get too heavy? Nowhere I have seen mentions a specific amount they should eat to be kept as pets.

 

[R2elk]

I have a BBW hen that is now about 6 months old. I would like to keep her alive as long as I can because she's very sweet. I have read on here that the way to keep them as healthy as possible and not overweight is to limit their feed and ensure they can free range to get plenty of exercise. She free ranges 24/7 and I usually feed her a little in the morning and a little in the evening but every time I do feed her she acts like she's starving, scarfing it down so quickly that she sometimes chokes it seems because she starts coughing and shaking her head. She is on Dumor 14% Game Bird Maintenance crumbles. How do I know if I'm feeding her enough to keep her healthy but not so much that she'll get too heavy? Nowhere I have seen mentions a specific amount they should eat to be kept as pets.

I would switch her to Purina® Game Bird Maintenance which is 12.5% protein.

You are experiencing what happens when you don't make food available all the time. The birds will gobble it up as if they are starving. Choking can happen.

When I raised BBWs their food was available to them all the time. They did not gobble it up. They did get to free range during the daytime giving them plenty of exercise.

I don't know if you can convert her back to having feed available without her ending up overeating.

 

[Serenity06]

I would switch her to Purina® Game Bird Maintenance which is 12.5% protein.

You are experiencing what happens when you don't make food available all the time. The birds will gobble it up as if they are starving. Choking can happen.

When I raised BBWs their food was available to them all the time. They did not gobble it up. They did get to free range during the daytime giving them plenty of exercise.

I don't know if you can convert her back to having feed available without her ending up overeating.

Oh ok I'm not sure why people on here keep suggesting to limit their feed then if it causes them to gorge themselves. I've never seen anyone suggest leaving it out free choice. I do put out enough that she doesn't eat it all at once. She eats maybe half at once and then the rest within a couple hours. But since it may be too late to prevent her overeating if given the option, what is an acceptable amount to give her daily?

 

[R2elk]

Oh ok I'm not sure why people on here keep suggesting to limit their feed then if it causes them to gorge themselves. I've never seen anyone suggest leaving it out free choice. I do put out enough that she doesn't eat it all at once. She eats maybe half at once and then the rest within a couple hours. But since it may be too late to prevent her overeating if given the option, what is an acceptable amount to give her daily?

Can't help you there. As long as she isn't losing weight she should be ok.

Limiting their feed but feeding them often enough that they don't feel starved is the trick.

Mine never ate a lot at one time but did eat frequently.

 

[Serenity06]

Can't help you there. As long as she isn't losing weight she should be ok.

Limiting their feed but feeding them often enough that they don't feel starved is the trick.

Mine never ate a lot at one time but did eat frequently.

Thank you, she definitely isn't losing weight so I guess things are well enough as they are. I may try feeding her more often just a little less at a time and see if that changes anything.