Ok, I'm new at all this. I have 6 chickens of assorted breeds and ages. None are laying yet. Two are probably getting close. I have an 4x11' chicken tractor that I shuffle around my yard daily.
Now, we have family in another state who have also recently aqcuired chickens (leghorns I think). They started with 7 who were currently laying. Same deal, slightly larger tractor.
Well, I know chickens can die for a variety of reasons, but they've recently lost 2 out of their 7. They contacted the lady they got the chickens from and she asked them, "Are you feeding them to much? Maybe they are dying while they are laying." Is this possible?
So, now, being that I'm new, this has me asking - am I feeding my chickens too much? What if I am, and when they start to lay, they die?
I don't think I'm feeding them too much. I mean, I have a traditional hanging feeder, and I fill it about half full with crumble. It takes the six chickens (only two are nearly full grown) at least two days to go through it. I give them a treat (usually fruit and/or veggie kitchen scraps, occasionally some meat leftovers) every evening, and sometimes in the morning. The treat amout is usually no more than 2 cups of scraps at a time. They always come rushing for the treats even though there's still crumble in their feeder.
I'm probably just paranoid.... right?
Now, we have family in another state who have also recently aqcuired chickens (leghorns I think). They started with 7 who were currently laying. Same deal, slightly larger tractor.
Well, I know chickens can die for a variety of reasons, but they've recently lost 2 out of their 7. They contacted the lady they got the chickens from and she asked them, "Are you feeding them to much? Maybe they are dying while they are laying." Is this possible?
So, now, being that I'm new, this has me asking - am I feeding my chickens too much? What if I am, and when they start to lay, they die?
I don't think I'm feeding them too much. I mean, I have a traditional hanging feeder, and I fill it about half full with crumble. It takes the six chickens (only two are nearly full grown) at least two days to go through it. I give them a treat (usually fruit and/or veggie kitchen scraps, occasionally some meat leftovers) every evening, and sometimes in the morning. The treat amout is usually no more than 2 cups of scraps at a time. They always come rushing for the treats even though there's still crumble in their feeder.
I'm probably just paranoid.... right?
You are doing fine with your feeding. If I were your friend, I would have one of the dead ones necropsied...that way, she would know what is killing them. Yes, you can overfeed and they can get a fatty liver disease..but, I've never heard of it happening unless they are never allowed to get any exercise and are fed very high protein foods.
