Not eating much

[Betsy57]

I usually go through 3 bags of feed a week with my chickens. I've just gone through one bag in 10 days. They're not eating much. They love the garden veggies and dried worms but not eating much of their feed. I've wormed them, dipped them for bugs, fresh clean water/feed, fermented the feed, different feed, feed is not old/moldy. Anyone else having this experience? I've never had them slack off their feed this much in the summer. It has been hot but the last 2 weeks not bad out. It was even 58 one morning last week and supposed to be again this week and a high of 75. Think it is just the weather?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Usually, when feed consumption goes up, I blame our ducks and the wild birds. Have those found a new feed source? Have you gotten a cat or something to eat the rats? Even sixty birds should not go through three bags in a week unless they're ten-pound bags.

 

[Betsy57]

Usually, when feed consumption goes up, I blame our ducks and the wild birds. Have those found a new feed source? Have you gotten a cat or something to eat the rats? Even sixty birds should not go through three bags in a week unless they're ten-pound bags.

#120 lbs of feed with 50 chickens. I don't leave feed out for anything else to eat their food. They were nice and plump My neighbor told me his aren't eating as much either so I guess it just be the summer weather and they're concerned about how they'll look in their swim suits They all act fine, just not eating much. I am still concerned about them.

 

[sylviethecochin]

It might have something to do with how you trim your grass? (I assume they're free ranging, here) Some of my younger roosters don't feel like facing down the old hens and the big rooster, so they mostly subsist off of grass seed until night when everyone else is perched, and they have free reign.

 

[Betsy57]

It might have something to do with how you trim your grass? (I assume they're free ranging, here) Some of my younger roosters don't feel like facing down the old hens and the big rooster, so they mostly subsist off of grass seed until night when everyone else is perched, and they have free reign.

No, don't think that is a problem. Yes, they're free-range in a big fenced in yard. Thanx for thinking for me!

 

[GC-Raptor]

My hens are only eating about 1/3 the feed now, than last winter/early spring. It's normal that they eat more feed in cool/cold weather for the calories to keep warm.
Also free range chickens where I live consume a lot of bugs and worms this time of year. . Enjoy the savings and remember to buy less feed next summer. Don't buy more feed than you can use in 2 months. I store my feed in the house, to keep it out of the heat and humidity which can cause mold and feed to get rancid, quickly. GC

 

[chickens really]

Free range and bugs they would rather eat that right now than the feed....

 

[Betsy57]

My hens are only eating about 1/3 the feed now, than last winter/early spring. It's normal that they eat more feed in cool/cold weather for the calories to keep warm.
Also free range chickens where I live consume a lot of bugs and worms this time of year.View attachment 1101526. Enjoy the savings and remember to buy less feed next summer. Don't buy more feed than you can use in 2 months. I store my feed in the house, to keep it out of the heat and humidity which can cause mold and feed to get rancid, quickly. GC

Thanx. I just don't recall the feed consumption dropping so much in past years. It's been so dry I don't think there are many bugs out there for them to eat. But they're getting plenty of fresh garden veggies and have food available. I've sprayed their bottoms this morning for lice/mites and wormed them. Doing 50 by myself is quite a job.

 

[Betsy57]

It might have something to do with how you trim your grass? (I assume they're free ranging, here) Some of my younger roosters don't feel like facing down the old hens and the big rooster, so they mostly subsist off of grass seed until night when everyone else is perched, and they have free reign.

I have food in several places so the younger rooster can get his food. Thanx for the comment.

 

[AquaDuck]

Agree that they're probably filling up on bugs and seeds. It's just the time for that now, especially if you have flowers etc in their free ranging area. The insect-population goes up and down naturally depending on weather conditions when they mate and hatch, so maybe this year it's extra many bugs? My ducklings are positively gorging themselves on bumblebees right now!