The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TeaChick]

Sorry about all your cold temps!

I've noticed something that's concerning mine about my chickens. They all seem to be losing weight. They eat the yard and the kitchen scraps and they have access to fermented feed and dry feed and what's left on the ground off the corn from before ( last week). They're not interested in eating almost any off the feed I have out for them and they seem healthy otherwise.
Is out normal for free range/ foraging chickens to look skinnier in the winter and still be healthy?

 

[lazy gardener]

Tea Chick, I'm noticing the same thing. My girls have lost a lot of weight. I've replaced their feed with 22% protein crumble. They avoid it. They are eating BOSS, cracked corn, sprouted BOSS, barley, wheat. Occasional bird seed, table scraps, about once a week I give them a can or sardines, and I give them table scraps or occ egg. Their crops are never full like they are in the summer. Only one girl laying now.

 

[TeaChick]

LG,
Thanks. I felt a little better seeing the same shape to the breasts of the birds in recent posts, but I feel a lot better that someone else has noticed it!!! =)
BTW, what is BOSS?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

My birds are still growing right now but they are filling up on the junk chicken food too.

 

[armorfirelady]

BOSS=black oil sunflower seeds

 

[Shan30]

I know this is random, but I just noticed that Mumsy hasn't been on in a month.
Did I miss something?:/

 

[TeaChick]

BOSS=black oil sunflower seeds

Ohhhh.
Thanks!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I know this is random, but I just noticed that Mumsy hasn't been on in a month.
Did I miss something?

I think she is really busy with family, holidays, and the beginning of breeding season. Still I miss reading her posts.

 

[TeaChick]

My birds are still growing right now but they are filling up on the junk chicken food too.

Curious; what is junk chicken food?
(or should I ask what is considered junk food for chickens at your house?) ;-)

 

[TeaChick]

@ Chaos:
I like your spiral egg thing!!! I want one!