SCRATCH PROBLEM, I NEED HELP!!

[eggchicken master]

ok, i have about 18 chickens and whenever i walk past the chicken coop to check on them they croud up and beg for scratch and i cant stand to see my chickens uncomfertable,(sorry about spelling) so i give in and i know its bad to have fat hens but it makes them happy! any tips?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Feed them grass instead.

Remember a fat hen will stop laying eggs.

 

[eggchicken master]

i should have thought of that, thanks kitty!!!!

 

[needmorechickens!]

They are not uncomfortable, they are just greedy! If you give them too much scratch then they will get fat and be really uncomfortable!

They are not as smart as you so you have to be the responsible one!
I know we just want to spoil them rotten, but we have to take good care of them too. That means not overfeeding them...try giving them smaller amounts when you do give scratch.
I hope you get it worked out.

~Rebecca

 

[AllChookUp]

Or give them other treats that have less calories than scratch - Leftovers from watermelon, berries, grass, veggies, etc. You'll figure out what they prefer and what they don't.

I understand - it is easy to spoil them.

 

[eggchicken master]

thanks guys i'll be more responsable,

 

[cmom]

Just remember scratch are treats.

 

[cmom]

I also give them vegie scraps except potato peels. I grow a lot of produce so rather than throw it out before it goes bad I give it to the girls. I grow a lot of watermellon, they love it!

 

[JennsPeeps]

We had a week of rain & several of my yellow squash rotted right on the vine.

&

for me

&

for the chickens

After seeing what they'll eat and get excited about, I'm no longer tempted to get crickets for them at the pet store!

 

[Gindee77]

I planted zucchini (green and yellow) to feed the chickens. I only use a few of what grows, so they get the rest. I just split one of the squash in half and they peck at it for a couple days. We also give them grass clippings (we don't use anything harmful on the grass!!) and they just love those. I use a little corn as scratch, but not very much...just a handful scattered over the coop floor mixed with a handful of grit every once in a while. We also give them lettuce butts, leftover watermelon and cantaloupe. Something with a rind seems to keep them the busiest and they seem to like it the best.