Things melted off and I am questioning feed

[Mrs. K]

With cattle, when it gets cold, they eat more.

But with my chickens, they seem to spend much of the time roosted up, and they do not seem to eat as much as when the weather is nice. I am wondering if one should not have their chickens a bit more fat going into winter.

As things melted off, I saw a lot of uneaten food. I think I just kept feeding, too cold to see what was gone from the day before.

Any comments?

 

[Welshies]

Often birds don't eat as much in winter due to daylight. Because poultry sleep after dark, not having enough daylight can cause them to skimp out on eating and drinking. 8 hours of daylight and up should be okay. Examine your birds to feel their beastbone and check their weight.
Often in a cold snap birds won't eat for a couple of days, and then their appetite will come back.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

ACTUALLY, flock keepers usually feed MORE during the winter. The chickens need the extra calories for energy, to keep warm. I suggest you either feed smaller batches more often, or change where they feed from if food is being wasted. Can you post a picture of your feeding system?

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Weshie - they had plenty of feed, I think they were just roosted up too much.

 

[Teila]

Please forgive me for going off topic a little but I had to share ….

So, I read the subject “Things melted off and I am questioning feed”

What the?? I have to look at this, things melting off!

Can you see how that would read funny to an Aussie who is nearly melting herself?

 

[lazy gardener]

I've noted that my birds do not eat as much during a cold snap. In the past, I've taken that as a need to add heat. However, this winter, at the urging of Beekissed, I started giving them a bowl of hot mash every morning, and that seemed to get them through the appetite slump. Yes, chickens need more calories and should eat more calories in the winter. I've discussed this with @Hokum Coco. IIRC, his response was that he's noted the same. Decreased consumption in the cold snaps. I believe he counters this by giving them whole corn. I'm of the mind set that a calorie is a calorie, and their prepared food is mostly corn anyways, so do not give whole corn.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have noticed this before less appetite, less food intake before. This year, I began to think about it. I am wondering if the animal is a little fatter, more fat to burn, in fall, that would also be a better state.

I agree that a calorie is a calorie, however, some foods, have more calories per a serving than other foods. I have seen many people be very intense about getting enough protein, and while protein is used to build eggs, feathers and muscles, it is not a great energy food.

Scratch is more of an energy food?

Years ago, I tried hot mash, and it froze into a solid clump way too fast. I have added straight cornmeal or left over cornmeal bread.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

Teila - I can see you melting away! haha we are headed back into another cold spell, with snow and wind. Had an early dismissal at school today, and a late start tomorrow.

 

[chickens really]

Chickens will only eat what they need. When it's cold they are not as active, there for burn less calories when roosting. It's normal and what Birds do.

 

[kwhites634]

With cattle, when it gets cold, they eat more.

But with my chickens, they seem to spend much of the time roosted up, and they do not seem to eat as much as when the weather is nice. I am wondering if one should not have their chickens a bit more fat going into winter.

As things melted off, I saw a lot of uneaten food. I think I just kept feeding, too cold to see what was gone from the day before.

Any comments?

Melting in SD in January? I'm moving!
Sounds like you need a feeder that doesn't allow so much waste.
I built a PVC gravity-fed tube feeder; the birds can eat whenever they want to.