Is it true that......

[Brown Chick]

Is it true that fat chickens don’t lay well? I feed 18% layer feed free choice and a few kitchen scraps not much. Free range a few hours a day. Someone told me to feed 1/2 cup per hen per day and no more and on the ground not in the feeder. What do you guys think about this advice?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Different breeds will need different amounts of food. You wouldn’t feed and bantam the same as a standard. So need more protein some less. It also changes if they free range. You can tell if a hen is overweight by feeling her breastbone. I can’t remember that exact rule for that so I’ll go look it up. It is bad for a chicken to be overweight especially hens it makes them more likely to get eggbound. It would also be impossible to know which hen eats how much unless they were separated. The hens higher in the pecking order would still eat the same amount and the lower ranking girls would go hungry

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

What do you guys think about this advice?

In a word, that advice is "bad". Unless your chickens are overeating and look fat, they're likely fine.

 

[theoldchick]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chickens-obesity-silent-killer-how-to/

 

[GC-Raptor]

Is it true that fat chickens don’t lay well? I feed 18% layer feed free choice and a few kitchen scraps not much. Free range a few hours a day. Someone told me to feed 1/2 cup per hen per day and no more and on the ground not in the feeder. What do you guys think about this advice?

I have feed and water available 24/7 in my rodent proof coops, when pop door is closed after sunset.

I feed a Non-medicated Starter Grower feed 18% Protein to my hens and pullets, 30 and 10 months old with a separate container of Oyster Shells.

Obesity can happen if you give too many treats, like Scratch Grains.
I limit Scratch to 2 Tbsp daily per chicken during winter season and 1 Tbsp daily during the rest of the year, scattered in their pen. I haven't had a fat hen in 4 years. GC

 

[Malkaris]

Is it true that fat chickens don’t lay well? I feed 18% layer feed free choice and a few kitchen scraps not much. Free range a few hours a day. Someone told me to feed 1/2 cup per hen per day and no more and on the ground not in the feeder. What do you guys think about this advice?

Why on earth would they suggest the ground? It would be wasted, get wet in the rain, and get trampled in poop.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Why on earth would they suggest the ground? It would be wasted, get wet in the rain, and get trampled in poop.

It’s just bad advice all around.

 

[Brown Chick]

In a word, that advice is "bad". Unless your chickens are overeating and look fat, they're likely fin

 

[Brown Chick]

They don’t seem super fat but are healthy size for sure.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I would free feed, they know how much they need better then you.