Neighbor's Chickens Trying to Join My Flock

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

We have two compost piles, honestly I wish we had three. One to fill with scraps/used bedding/etc, one that’s “cooking”, and one that’s ready to use. I’ve been gardening for years and composting about half that time, but last summer was the first time with chickens, and the additional litter from cleaning the coop really added to the volume what what I was composting. My chickens love scratching around in mine, so I do have to shovel it back in periodically.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard of some people drilling holes in pvc pipe and laying it every 6-8” across the pile with the ends sticking out to improve oxygen availability. Then putting another set of pipes 6-8” up, etc. Turning a compost pile is hard work, so having a more passive system is appealing. I also plan to introduce worms to my piles this year. My kids love digging them up in the garden and feeding to the chickens, so I imagine the ladies would be thrilled to go hunting for them in their own. You will have flies, so having a trap or two nearby is a good idea if you don’t want them in your house.
One other great talking point mentioned by other people is that it’s winter/early spring and so unless you live somewhere semitropical, there’s nothing growing and no bugs for them to forage. I think that’s a great point to bring up, along with the fact that chickens prefer free ranging to eating later feed - so leaving it free choice isn’t going to discourage them from free ranging unless they’re meat birds. And if there’s only one feeder, no way are the lower pecking order hens getting an equal share.

We have two compost piles, honestly I wish we had three. One to fill with scraps/used bedding/etc, one that’s “cooking”, and one that’s ready to use. I’ve been gardening for years and composting about half that time, but last summer was the first time with chickens, and the additional litter from cleaning the coop really added to the volume what what I was composting. My chickens love scratching around in mine, so I do have to shovel it back in periodically.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard of some people drilling holes in pvc pipe and laying it every 6-8” across the pile with the ends sticking out to improve oxygen availability. Then putting another set of pipes 6-8” up, etc. Turning a compost pile is hard work, so having a more passive system is appealing. I also plan to introduce worms to my piles this year. My kids love digging them up in the garden and feeding to the chickens, so I imagine the ladies would be thrilled to go hunting for them in their own. You will have flies, so having a trap or two nearby is a good idea if you don’t want them in your house.
One other great talking point mentioned by other people is that it’s winter/early spring and so unless you live somewhere semitropical, there’s nothing growing and no bugs for them to forage. I think that’s a great point to bring up, along with the fact that chickens prefer free ranging to eating later feed - so leaving it free choice isn’t going to discourage them from free ranging unless they’re meat birds. And if there’s only one feeder, no way are the lower pecking order hens getting an equal share.

Yes! In my draft of what to say I wrote down that I belive the girls lower in the pecking order aren't getting any by the time the top hens are through. I only have 8 girls but still use 3 feeders for this reason.

Thank you for the amazing composting advice!

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

maybe you could tell them how lack of food = lack of eggs (or quality eggs anyway)

Good point! I'll add that to my list... this thing is going to start sounding like a manifesto lol.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

You are a good person for making sure those chickens don't go hungry.

I just thought of another possible way to handle this. You could tell her that you value her friendship, but you have a problem and need her help. Then show her this thread. Once she reads it, she will realize that it's not just you telling her how to take care of chickens. It's a lot of chicken people saying the same thing. Or maybe that wouldn't work for you, I don't know.

Tempting. And this thread is certainly valuable. I'll see how talking to them goes and perhaps use this as back up if I feel it's not going anywhere. Thank you!

 

[Weeg]

There is a thread we’re a 100% free range diet worked, but you need acres and acres of property, and you have to raise them to know to forage.
here’s the thread, Mayer you could inform them on why it doesn’t work in their situation as well, not enough acreage, and other reasons. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-100-forage-diet-experiment-long-post.1435544/

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Thats a good idea, other then the comments on call gin animal control, that would turn her away from it before she even reads the whole thing, but maybe if just the areas without those comments were shown it would be okay. You're just have to screen shot specific sections so she can't see the whole thing.
Otherwise, thats a great idea.

Haha yes screen shots are a great idea, I don't want them to see the laundry list of things I've been thinking (though I know they should). Gotta pick my battles.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

A common estimate is 1/4 pound to 1/3 pound, per chicken, per day.

For 12 chickens, that's 3 to 4 pounds per day. So a 50 pound bag would last about 2 weeks.

How many cups per pound varies, but someone weighed one brand here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/figured-out-how-many-cups-of-feed-equals-one-pound.673097/

They found that 1/4 pound was 3/4 cup, and 1/3 pound was 1 cup.

Given that the chickens are underweight now, I would suggest one cup per chicken per day (and hope that their chicken food has a similar weight-per-cup to what that other person measured.)

Yes, that would mean they have been providing 2 chickens' worth of food for their 12 chickens.



If you're going to let them eat your food anyway, try making it wet with water. It will help with the sneezing and coughing and choking from trying to gobble it down dry. Water also makes the food swell up, so they will feel full faster (not sure if that effect is good or bad, if this is their only good meal of the day.)

Thank you for the helpful info--the measurements and use of mash. I do give my girls a mash every night and theirs get a little leftovers and they go CRAZY for it. I should definitely start leaving then more (might have to buy some cheaper feed though).

 

[Weeg]

Haha yes screen shots are a great idea, I don't want them to see the laundry list of things I've been thinking (though I know they should). Gotta pick my battles.

Yes, no need to offend them before they get the point. I think you have a great approach, your doing a really great job!

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Compost is a great idea as well! You got this OP! Those chickens really appreciate you right now!

Thank you for the encouragement!

 

[Weeg]

Thank you for the helpful info--the measurements and use of mash. I do give my girls a mash every night and theirs get a little leftovers and they go CRAZY for it. I should definitely start leaving then more (might have to buy some cheaper feed though).

Cheaper feed will be better then nothing, or at least get cheep fed for their hens nicer stuff for yours.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Thanks! I think they're out at all day at least. But right now they still seem hungry for feed. I'm guessing the 2 tbsp per hen end up mostly being a cup each to the top hens.

Even if they are out all day, does each chicken have about 5 acres a piece? I would figure that’s about how much each chicken would need to completely be able to free range every day with only 2 tablespoons of food.