My young chickens act like they're starving every morning.

[matt8715]

I feed my young chickens every morning and check them all. They all eat until their crops are full and every morning they act like they haven't eaten in days. They are about 11-14 weeks old and I am feeding them chick starter grower. Should I be feeding them something else?

 

[MeChicksBeSwede]

Hi, Matt. I just joined BYC as well so I may not be much help. However, I thought I'd share with you that I am having the SAME issue! so you know, you're not alone. I have some Swedish Flower Hens that are acting like they don't know what happens to the copious amounts of organic chic start that is delivered daily (sometimes twice daily as I can't resist their antics), they pretend that it just disappears with out anyone ever getting a nibble of it...100+ pounds of it in the last 3-4weeks....POOF!...just disappeared! :/ Seriously though, they are growing, appear healthy, are super friendly, & I even give them healthy treats (fruits,veggies, etc) here and there. I started giving them chick grit a couple of weeks ago, thinking that they were acting so crazy because they were lacking something in their diet...but to this point it's made no difference. I think they may just want to be free to forage (I'm keeping them penned until the isolation period is over before letting them free range and co-mingle with the established flock) but I'm also starting to think they have worms or something. Anybody out there have any other ideas?

 

[Rod-T]

Fill there feeder full.. don't feed them once a day. .give them all they want

 

[SuperChickRuth]

I agree with Rod-T. Leave their food out all day for them. That's all chickens do, (or should)- eat, and lay.

 

[chickengal512]

Birds have a high metabolism, hence the reason they can, and do, eat all day

 

[drumstick diva]

If the food is with them all day, they will regulate themselves and not eat so much all at once. They will eat off and on during the day. If you have an outdoor feeder, could be wild birds or other scoundrels are eating their feed as well.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[matt8715]

Well my adult chickens eat what they need, but the 11-14 week olds will eat until it seems their crops are going to explode. I thought maybe they want to keep eating because chickens are stingy eaters but wasn't sure.