Overfeeding???

[Big Joe 77]

I was talking to a friend of mine who has also started raising chickens & he asked me about overfeeding chickens. A friend of his told him that overfeeding his chickens could lead to excess weight on the chickens & hinder egg production. Any advice or thoughts on this??? Can you overfeed chickens??? Should you only feed them a certain number of times a day or a certain amount??? Thanks.

 

[donrae]

I've always free fed my chickens and they've never been overweight. And if they laid any more eggs I don't know what I'd do!

Maybe this friend was confusing meat birds with layers? Meaties are bred to just about eat themselves to death. Other chickens, not so much. They self-regulate quite well.

 

[Lil Ts Chicks]

Hello Happy Sunday,

Hope you don't mind my few cents worth? LOL I am just a lil over a year raising my "gang of misfits" but I feed them just about everything. I wish someone could post more the "Do Not Feed" a list. I do know that if you feed your chickens cabbage or onions your eggs will have a faint scent of those foods. But living in NM our land is almost like sand. Slim picking when it comes to buggies they love & need for protein. I go to our local pantry where they love to trade me fresh veggies, fruit, wheat bread, in exchange for eggs. I feed my chickies 2 times a day. Manly on part because my Black Jersey Giants are like have 6 instead of 2, my Rooster Dude is a pig. LOL. They all love when I dice up a big bowl of love.
Good Luck

 

[Big Joe 77]

I kinda thought that chickens would self regulate their eating, but wasn't completely sure.Thank you.

 

[Big Joe 77]

Is there a "Do Not Feed List"??? I'd like to see it, if so,because I feed my hens their regular feed but I also feed them from the table as well. Mostly veggies from the table, but my wife heard citrus fruit was not good to give them & they "LOVE" mandarin oranges. Your two cents was worth it, glad you put it in,lol.

 

[shmccarthy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens
Here is a list of treats you can give your chickens. I've read that chickens eat about a half a cup of layer feed(if you feed them that) a day. Overfeeding can and most likely will lead to overweight birds. Chickens are also more likely to produce multiple yolk eggs, which could cause injury to the hen. I know this from reading and experience and its best to moderate their food everyday so they're getting a balanced diet. Hope this helps.

 

[Big Joe 77]

Thanks, I'm gonna check the treat list out. As for me my hens are still on starter feed, but I'll pass the info about the half cup layer feed a day on to my friend & the treat list as well. Thanks again.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Chickens are pretty good at regulating their own eating and nutrition if provided good choices. The most common practice with backyard chicken people is to free feed and let the birds eat what they want. Generally they will eat 1/4-1/2 lb a day depending on the breed if eating only feed. There are ways to cut this down. Meat specific breeds are a different story and can become too fat to function but any regular breed will not over eat.

 

[Big Joe 77]

Yes, I free feed my hens & occassionally give them fruit & veggies. I have 2 Buff Orps & 1 Black Sex Link & they are just for eggs. Thanks for the info.

 

[sbrown]

I see so much variance on what people say they feed. I read where one person said they went through 50lbs like every week with just 6 hens I think. I don't see how thats possible? I just now got back up to 7 birds total but I just scoop a small coffee can about 3/4 full now and toss it out for them. They eat readily and never any worry about leftovers really for rodents or varmits. I do let them free range around the yard a good bit now though so I imagine they eat a good bit just from that.