Too many treats?

[jeabjeab]

Just wondering if we gave into our chicken's urges/pleasures and fed them a moderate amount of fresh greens that we accept their production would drop, but would their lifespans [and health] be increased??
I cut my chickens rations all day yesterday and it was so sad to see the frowns on their beaks............

 

[lmterp]

Oh do I hear you!!

 

[NatJ]

Just wondering if we gave into our chicken's urges/pleasures and fed them a moderate amount of fresh greens that we accept their production would drop, but would their lifespans [and health] be increased??

You can give them all-day access to green plants (pasture), while also having constant access to a complete chicken feed, and I would expect NO drop in egg production. And the chickens will probably be healthier too.

(This is the basic idea of "free range" or "pastured" chickens.)

 

[jeabjeab]

Maybe I should re word my post to .................
What is the lifespan of a free range chicken vs the lifespan of a factory fed chicken? [not counting culling for 'stewers']

 

[21hens-incharge]

Maybe I should re word my post to .................
What is the lifespan of a free range chicken vs the lifespan of a factory fed chicken? [not counting culling for 'stewers']

Not really a fair question. Many birds die from predation when free ranging so nutrition or lack of is not the cause of early deaths there.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

My birds LOVE their feed moistened with water aka mash. It's a favorite here. I always make it in the evening before lock up so I can make sure everyone goes to bed with a full crop. I agree with previous posters and suggest you try that.

One other thing I noticed you mention that you feed organic feed. You may want to check the mill date on the bag. My birds turn their beaks up at feed that's not as fresh (they will eventually eat it but not eagerly like normal). Since organic feed is more expensive, oftentimes it will sit longer before its purchased. The companies and stores will tell you that it's still good and perfectly fine to feed and maybe it is, but it's starts to lose its benefits quickly after being milled. I have read articles on this but I don't have any links to share. I'll tag some folks that may have the links and more information on this.

For those I tag, I apologize if I've mistakenly tagged you and you haven't shared on the importance of fresh feed.

@Folly's place @Mrs. K @EggSighted4Life @Eggcessive @aart

There are others but I don't have access to my notes right now and I'm probably mixing things up in my mind, so I apologize.

The importance of limiting treats has been covered and is probably the reason your birds aren't eating their feed. I just wanted to offer one other possibility.

I wish you the very best and hope you are getting lots of eggs from very healthy girls soon

 

[Folly's place]

I check the mill date on every bag before i buy it, and plan to use the feed within two months of it's mill date, every time.
In the USA it's required to have the mill date on each bag of livestock feed. Some companies use open dating, easy to read. There are companies that use a code, which has to be interpreted by the store, and I find that offensive, and wouldn't buy that product.
Another reason why everyone may have different best choices is feeds, depending on what's fresh where they shop.
Mary

 

[linguini]

My girls lost interests in their feed after I switched from 18% to layer's feed last month. (they are 6 month old now). I thought it was because they free-ranged too long and/or too much treat. So I cut down the hours of their free range, and stopped afternoon treats, replaced by the wet crumbles mash mixed with kitchen scraps (vege leaves, fruits, about one small bowl each day) and crushed egg shell (I toast the shell first) in the afternoon. They thought the mash mixed is the best thing in the world!! But I do hope to have them get back to their dry crumbles from the feeder directly so I don't have to make their meal everyday! Will they go back? or should I switch back to 18% and add oyster shell ? my concern is that they won't eat the added calcium.

 

[rosemarythyme]

But I do hope to have them get back to their dry crumbles from the feeder directly so I don't have to make their meal everyday! Will they go back? or should I switch back to 18% and add oyster shell ? my concern is that they won't eat the added calcium.

Is the layer feed the same brand as the 18% feed, or are the ingredients similar? Just asking to see if it's a matter of taste, or the crumble v pellet shape/size, or what.

For now I'd switch back to the 18% with calcium on the side, since you know they were willing to eat the feed. Don't mix in the calcium, let them take what they need and IF it turns out they're having soft shells, troubleshoot from there.

 

[lmterp]

My birds LOVE their feed moistened with water aka mash. It's a favorite here. I always make it in the evening before lock up so I can make sure everyone goes to bed with a full crop. I agree with previous posters and suggest you try that.

One other thing I noticed you mention that you feed organic feed. You may want to check the mill date on the bag. My birds turn their beaks up at feed that's not as fresh (they will eventually eat it but not eagerly like normal). Since organic feed is more expensive, oftentimes it will sit longer before its purchased. The companies and stores will tell you that it's still good and perfectly fine to feed and maybe it is, but it's starts to lose its benefits quickly after being milled. I have read articles on this but I don't have any links to share. I'll tag some folks that may have the links and more information on this.

For those I tag, I apologize if I've mistakenly tagged you and you haven't shared on the importance of fresh feed.

@Folly's place @Mrs. K @EggSighted4Life @Eggcessive @aart

There are others but I don't have access to my notes right now and I'm probably mixing things up in my mind, so I apologize.

The importance of limiting treats has been covered and is probably the reason your birds aren't eating their feed. I just wanted to offer one other possibility.

I wish you the very best and hope you are getting lots of eggs from very healthy girls soon

Thank you. I never thought to check the mill date. I now have a source (haven't bought yet) of a local farmer who makes organic feed. Has gotten rave reviews from a nearby chicken owner.

Also, 5 girls are now back to laying eggs. The ones who were partially molting are pretty. much full feathered, and now a few more are going through a partial molt. Five girls are now laying again (one, who has laid all along).