Neighbor's Chickens Trying to Join My Flock

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Chickens go a bit food-mad for 2 reasons in my experience:
1. It's a treat and tasty
2. they're hungry.

My chickens don't free range exactly, but I have done so in the past and at the moment they have a very large open run with trees, bushes, grass, etc.
In the morning, they'll eat food quick because I take it away at night, but throughout the day, with access to forage, they just nibble occasionally, no frenzies.

So if they're going into frenzy just if they see some regular food, they are very hungry.


I was also wondering about what else the girls have. Do the neighbours give them calcium? Do they have access to fresh water constantly?

Thank you again for being so compassionate. The world needs more people like you.

Thank you for the kind insights. It affirms my inkling. Not sure about calcium (I don't think so), and they have water but it's in old feed bins that are covered in algae, often left in the sun on warm days. They have one of those hanging drinkers in the coops, refilled by water sitting in bins in the coop, which is cleaner then the bowls left out but still filmy.

Since it's warmed up I've put out clean water daily in the shade. Thanks again for your kindness.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

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.

They roam about 4-5 acres of grassy areas and some woodland/brush, and a small creek. I imagine there's good variety but they seem to stay in a small radius. Lately I have seen them expanding into areas they shouldn't, like past the invisible fence of two aggressive dogs at the property next-door, and into a fenced in public graveyard (yes, I have on occasion rescued one of their hens who found her way into the graveyard and couldn't find her way out--couldnt help but laugh when I spotted a red hen pacing the inner perimeter in a panic, definitely pooping on graves). Their land is long and narrow, going steeply up a mountain--problem is what's on the left and right and lack of fences. They don't seem to ever go up the mountain, yet, at least. Maybe because of predators? And yes, the 4-5 acres radius includes our little acre.

 

[Weeg]

They roam about 4-5 acres of grassy areas and some woodland/brush, and a small creek. I imagine there's good variety but they seem to stay in a small radius. Lately I have seen them expanding into areas they shouldn't, like past the invisible fence of two aggressive dogs at the property next-door, and into a fenced in public graveyard (yes, I have on occasion rescued one of their hens who found her way into the graveyard and couldn't find her way out--couldnt help but laugh when I spotted a red hen pacing the inner perimeter in a panic, definitely pooping on graves). Their land is long and narrow, going steeply up a mountain--problem is what's on the left and right and lack of fences. They don't seem to ever go up the mountain, yet, at least. Maybe because of predators? And yes, the 4-5 acres radius includes our little acre.

That may be enough, but you have to teach the chicks as soon as they can go outside to forage. I you situ feed them chick starter their whole "chickhood", then suddenly start feeding a very little amount and expect them to forage. (They may not have done this, but it seems like they did something very similar.)
If you do that, they are dependent on feed, and don't know how to forage for themselves. I did a lot of research on the topic, as I was planning on doing it myself, (I have 8 acres, of yard, lots of woods, brush, and leaf litter that is still close to the coop, and a creek. I would have 8 chickens, an acre a chicken) but then decided that the risk of predation as to great.

 

[SulkyBantam]

B

Thank you for the kind insights. It affirms my inkling. Not sure about calcium (I don't think so), and they have water but it's in old feed bins that are covered in algae, often left in the sun on warm days. They have one of those hanging drinkers in the coops, refilled by water sitting in bins in the coop, which is cleaner then the bowls left out but still filmy.

Since it's warmed up I've put out clean water daily in the shade. Thanks again for your kindness.

Bless you for being so good to them. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Brooks_]

I really knew it was an issue when their chickens started vacuuming up the leftover feed dust that my own chickens won't touch.

While them seeing that may not be enough by itself, it should be strong evidence for your case.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

That may be enough, but you have to teach the chicks as soon as they can go outside to forage. I you situ feed them chick starter their whole "chickhood", then suddenly start feeding a very little amount and expect them to forage. (They may not have done this, but it seems like they did something very similar.)
If you do that, they are dependent on feed, and don't know how to forage for themselves. I did a lot of research on the topic, as I was planning on doing it myself, (I have 8 acres, of yard, lots of woods, brush, and leaf litter that is still close to the coop, and a creek. I would have 8 chickens, an acre a chicken) but then decided that the risk of predation as to great.

I imagine they're pretty good foragers. They'd been partially free ranged the first 6 months or so of their lives, then were kept in after predator issues (but then had turkey-killing issues), and now have been fully free ranging. I'm hoping now that spring has sprung there will be more nutrients available for them to free range, so hopefully it'll be less of an issue. We'll still bring it up, because I feel they should have feed out in case they need it (and to help some of the underweight ones catch up).

Today I noticed the few that have historically come down to us (the bullied ones) are way healthier looking than some of the ones that only just started coming down to eat feed. At first I had shooed them away because I wanted it to be a safe harbor for the bullied, but in picking them up to do so, I noticed how bony they were. So now I've resigned to letting my yard be an intermittent buffet for all

I have been throwing out BOSS to help bulk 'em up, too.

 

[NatJ]

I have been throwing out BOSS to help bulk 'em up, too.

I don't know prices in your area, but sunflower seeds cost more than chicken food in my area. Chicken food is probably the healthiest thing for them, so I wouldn't buy anything MORE expensive to feed them instead.

 

[kodster]

I would tell your neighbors, if you haven't already, that they're GREAT foragers. They forage YOUR girls' feed and water because they don't know how to properly forage on their own. Neglecting water, especially, allowing it to sit for so long that algae grow in it is pure neglect. If they don't do something about properly feeding and caring for their birds, you need to make a hard choice... call animal control, report the animal abuse, because that's what this is, and if you decide to do it, offer to take them, once animal control confiscates the birds.

 

[mereschultz]

Personally, I would approach it in a completely backward way. I would tell and show them what the problem is... that the girls are fighting their way into your run and stealing your feed. Also let them know they are losing a few eggs.

Ask them if there is anything they can think of that might help. If they don't offer suggestions, ask them if they could perhaps up the rations to see if it makes a difference. Make sure to phrase it as a request. It's totally ok for you to mention your on a budget for feed and can't think of a way to make sure your hens have access and theirs don't.

This way you are positioning yourself as asking for their help instead of telling them what they should be doing. It seems a little petty, but it sounds like you are an emotionally sensitive person and it is your best chance for both getting what you need and letting them feel good about it.

Some people need that sort of thing to be receptive.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I have more than my girls can healthily use up before they aren't so fresh anymore (I always buy the big bags because more bang for your buck and then I'm not able to use it all)--so in this case they're doing me a favor. But yeah, normally I think I'll get a budget feed to help them supplement their diet with. I have noticed some of their scrawnier ones looking a bit brighter since I've been letting them grab more feed here. Their healthiest looking girls are the ones who have been hitting me up for months lol. Poor girls!

I don't know prices in your area, but sunflower seeds cost more than chicken food in my area. Chicken food is probably the healthiest thing for them, so I wouldn't buy anything MORE expensive to feed them instead.