overfeeding

[Ricks Chicks]

Can I over feed? I thought they would stop when satisfied. I keep a feeder full in the coop. I also throw scratch on the ground in there run. They also like grass, squash,blue berries, spagetti, yogurt, rice. I put that on the ground for them also, prety much every night while I am sitting watching them . I need to know if I should stop this or if it is OK.

 

[CUDA]

Pick your birds up, and feel them, that will tell you if it is working for you or not.

 

[Nemo]

I've heard that you usually won't have problems with overfeeding of layers unless you keep them cooped up all the time... Boredom seems to bring out the munchies in chickens as well as humans.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree.
Mine have access 24/7 to their food and water. I give them treats of scratch ,vegies, most everything that I can grow. I do grow a lot of corn and watermelon especially. Also tomatoes, squash, root crops, the list can go on. I feed them everything except potatoes. I figure they will eat what they want. I do free range them.

 

[redoak]

I sometimes worry I'm over feeding them treats and they aren't getting enough layer pellets.

 

[TommyVT05]

I don't know for SURE, but I think its better to have plenty of food to eat...I guess you can call it overfeeding, than underfed. Never heard of a chicken eatting too much and died or ever witnessed it before. I however have seen under-fed chickens die...

- Tommy

 

[CUDA]

Not enough food is bad, but being fat is bad too. I have people ask me all the time why their layers aren't laying well, and the first thing I ask is what is their diet. 9 times out of 10 they are feeding too much corn, and the birds are fat, which causes them to lay poorly. Some breeds are worse than others for this, but that is why I regulate my fowls food intake very closely as to keep them in top shape. That is why I say you have to pick your birds up, so you can evaluate them. Doing this will also allow you to catch problems, like worms and such, before they become life threatening.

 

[hinkjc]

Cuda makes a good point...too much fat can cause a whole array of problems for a laying flock. Healthy foods and lots of exercise ensure good healthy birds.

In addition, to eliminate worries about them eating too much treats..offer them later in the day. This forces them to consume the "good" food most of the day and have a treat before bed. If they get treats first thing in the day, they tend to fill up on that and eat less of the "good" food. Skip a day now and then too. They don't need treats..we just like to see their happy little faces when they know they're getting some. Remember, like people..we don't need ice cream every day.

Jody

 

[TommyVT05]

Well said hinkjc and CUDA!

: )
Too much corn or anything rather, besides greens, will just make a bunch of fat and all that. If corn is a MUST due to feed going up, etc. etc., letting then RUN around is rather better than caged up. That will perhaps help a little but best is a variety of anything. Table scrap is not bad if you have a large family and eat mostly greens.

Good luck!

- Tommy