Pullets making a mess, causing mold

DraftXJumper

Songster
6 Years
May 27, 2017
112
69
146
Wisconsin
Hello! Our "original girls" (almost 9 weeks old) and our "new girls" (~11/12 weeks old) have integrated very well in our new coop and run. I have a large feeder & waterer inside the coop, but also water in the run, as well as an extra cup of feed in case the new girls were being excluded from the main feeder. I noticed today, however, that the food that has spilled onto the grass is growing a fuzzy, white mold. I wanted to remove the outdoor feeder soon anyway, but I just want to be sure the new girls are getting to the main (indoor) feeder before I did. They have been integrated for about 2-3 weeks, and there doesn't seem to be any more chasing or pecking. They free-range together beautifully, usually all napping in the dirt under the same trees or bushes. Sorry for the rambling, but should I just get rid of the outdoor feeder now? I want to make sure everyone is eating, but don't want them eating mold either!
 
I'm sure yours are more than ready by your description and it should be fine to remove the extra feeder. I did so after maybe a week because they seemed cohesive enough. If there are multiple feeding shifts at bedtime, that is the only occasion any chicken will be waiting and they will wait rather than going hungry. It's normal for those lower in the order to wait, load up, and then take the roost spaces not already occupied by the higher-ranking birds.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom