Is it normal for chickens to be cutting down on feed this time of year?

[Farmer Mike S]

Usually my feeder lasts around 3 days. The past few times I refilled it it's been about 5 days. They are drinking less too which is predictable since it's getting cold, and egg production is slowing too which again is something I expect since days are getting shorter. I just want to make sure though that my chickens eating less is normal.

 

[BantamLover21]

For the several years that I've been raising chickens, I've noticed the same thing: when it starts getting colder, the chickens start eating less. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense, as you would think that they need more feed to produce energy to keep warm. As long as your flock seems healthy (eat, drink, are free from parasites, no respiratory symptoms, etc.) otherwise, they're probably fine.

 

[Wyandottes7]

I've noticed, too, that my chickens eat less in the winter. It doesn't really make sense to me (you would think that they would be eating more because of colder weather), but it seems to be the way it is. My birds act perfectly healthy and normal, but just eat less. They drink less, too. So, in my opinion, its normal.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The days here are shorter by nearly three hours compared to a few months ago.

That's 21 hours (nearly a full day) less per week they have to eat and drink, and each day from now until Dec 21 will be even shorter