My chickens and ducks will not eat their feed

[Htes3]

A week ago I let my flock permanently free range after putting a fence up. But now they wont touch any feed i lay out. They are all around 4 months old. Im worried about their health. Also unrelated topic but they also will not go in their coop at night or when it rains, they stay under my fig tree at that time, ive tried to catch them but they are to fast, can anyone help. I have an olive egger, blue americana, 4 black stars, a pekin, and a khaki Campbell.

 

[Scooby308]

If they are free ranging, could they be getting enough food during the day that they don't need the feed you are putting out? Is the feed you offer fresh, smell ok, changed to a new brand?

Others that know way more will be along shortly...

 

[Roosterrob21]

They're filling up on bugs and grass. O I use tractors to free range my birds to cut down on feed cost. They're fine Just becoming less dependent on you. If u wanna catch them wait till night

 

[Htes3]

The food is fresh, my black stars will sometimes come close enough to hand feed, they will go crazy over it but. But they just wont eat it in their feeder or if i throwing in a pile on the ground.

 

[Htes3]

They're filling up on bugs and grass. O I use tractors to free range my birds to cut down on feed cost. They're fine Just becoming less dependent on you. If u wanna catch them wait till night

Thank you, although i have tried at night but im kind of heavy set, and they hear me coming everytime

 

[lazy gardener]

Check the mill date on your feed bag. If it's over 6 weeks it may be compromised.

Otherwise, they may be getting enough that they don't want the feed. It would be like me having a choice between fresh picked strawberries, and canned ones. I bet you can guess which ones I'd be filling up on!

Their current sleeping arrangement is worrisome. They are going to be a meal for local predators sooner than later. You may need to train them to coop/run. Also, more info about your coop set up, pics helpful. They may have a complaint with the design. Even when exclusively free ranging, I advocate for a secure run to be able to deal with the many issues which crop up resulting in the need of confinement.

 

[Scooby308]

Otherwise, they may be getting enough that they don't want the feed. It would be like me having a choice between fresh picked strawberries, and canned ones. I bet you can guess which ones I'd be filling up on!

Well, I am pretty fond of canned peaches over fresh, but that is a rarity.

The food is fresh, my black stars will sometimes come close enough to hand feed, they will go crazy over it but. But they just wont eat it in their feeder or if i throwing in a pile on the ground.

Did something happen around the feeder that spooked them? I'd try pitching a handful of feed out away from the feeder and see who eats. If they all dive in like they are starving it may have to do with a fear of the feeder.

 

[Htes3]

Check the mill date on your feed bag. If it's over 6 weeks it may be compromised.

Otherwise, they may be getting enough that they don't want the feed. It would be like me having a choice between fresh picked strawberries, and canned ones. I bet you can guess which ones I'd be filling up on!

Their current sleeping arrangement is worrisome. They are going to be a meal for local predators sooner than later. You may need to train them to coop/run. Also, more info about your coop set up, pics helpful. They may have a complaint with the design. Even when exclusively free ranging, I advocate for a secure run to be able to deal with the many issues which crop up resulting in the need of confinement.

Its fresh i actually bought it last week, just checked it to be sure. I think your correct. As far as the coop they loved it, but as soon as i took the runner down they seemed to have forgot it exist. In fact i actually caught one a few days ago at night and put her in there she stayed in there all night it just seems like they forget its existence. Its a massive coop 10ft by 10ft with 2 roost poles and and 4 nesting boxes, i keep it very clean too.

 

[Htes3]

Well, I am pretty fond of canned peaches over fresh, but that is a rarity.
I actually try four ways to feed them everyday, They got the feeder which as far as i know nothing happened, i throw some on the ground like scratch, i put some in a metal feed tin a bought from TSC, I leave some in a noticable pile on the ground, and try to hand feed. My black stars are the only ones who seem to go for the throw scratch option. They others just dont go after it


Did something happen around the feeder that spooked them? I'd try pitching a handful of feed out away from the feeder and see who eats. If they all dive in like they are starving it may have to do with a fear of the feeder.

 

[lazy gardener]

You need to retrain them. You might do so with a shaker can of scratch grain. Possibly, you could lure them into the coop for a snack every night. But most likely, you will need to put up a run, and will most likely need to COVER it in order to re-train them.

My birds are trained to a shaker can of scratch grain. When ever I give a treat of any kind, I call them. If it's a can of scratch grain, they get the verbal prompt along with the sound of the grain. If they are ranging, and I need to pen them, a bit of scratch grain, and a verbal call gets them all in the run pronto.

Pretty much, the only time they get scratch is if I need to pen them or give them some diversion.