My chickens are eating alot more lately why???

[iadorethesea]

My 2 year old chickens free range durning the day, and at night we pen them up in their coop. When I pen them up I give them fresh food and water and a little grain. Lately though they have been going through a lot more of the food I give them. Why would that be?? I use hanging feeders, and I guess I don't really think the mice are getting in to it that bad, we just don't really have alot of mice. We have a cat that loves to take care of that problem for us....

 

[Tweeza]

I have noticed this in my own hens. They free-range during the day. There's a lot more stuff for them to eat, right now out in the field, than there was in Feb/march. Yet, I'm having to fill their feeder more often and it's not cold at night either, causing them to need more food. It's weird. Also, they're producing the same number of eggs.

 

[needtohatch]

Try adding a little cyane (sp?) pepper to the feed just in case it is mice or some other little critter. I Sprinkle our feed 3-4 nights in a row when I notice an increase in the amount I am feeding. It seems to help and can't hurt. Also I noticed this spring the birds that nest in the barn rafters are helping themselves to the chicken feed.