What would happen if a hen didn't eat for 3 days?

[brooke070512]

Hey! Just curious, don't worry my chickens are perfectly healthy! But what would happen if they didn't eat for 3 days straight? (I have 6 hens, we are getting about 1-2 eggs a day because its winter, my grandpa put a timed light in the backyard in the coop. So in the morning I think from 5-7 A.M. the light is on since its dark at that time so we will keep getting eggs. [note that its also winter so that is effecting how many we get too) Please let me know!

 

[Shadrach]

Hello brooke070512
Welcome to BYC.
Absolute starvation for 3 days probably wouldn't kill them. However, a chickens digestive system doesn't rest like a humans and the gizzard in particular which grinds the food would tend to get sore and dry out. The other thing is even if you don't feed them they will try and eat things they maybe shouldn't in order to fill their crop for the night.
So, all in all not a good idea but probably not fatal.

 

[N F C]

Why wouldn't they have something to eat for 3 days?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The same thing that would happen if you didn't eat for three days. They'd get hungry but would not starve to death any more than you would. They might try to eat stuff they shouldn't, not sure what or how much. What is available?

Before a hen starts to lay she builds up excess fat to mostly live off of while she is broody so she can spend most of her time on the nest instead of foraging for food. If you butcher hens and pullets as well as cockerels and roosters you will notice the fat difference, especially if the hens or pullets are laying. As far as her overall long term health I would not worry. But she will almost certainly quit laying, probably for a while until she replaced that fat reserve. The stress of going without food might trigger a molt. I don't see anything beneficial at all and would try really hard to avoid that happening.

 

[chickens really]

Fresh water is actually the most important thing for Chickens and then of course food. I'm not sure how they would be affected after 3 days without food. Probably pretty hungry though.

 

[IamRainey]

Yes! Don't let thinking they'd be OK for a short time without food confuse you about the fact that they absolutely need water available all the time.

 

[brooke070512]

Why wouldn't they have something to eat for 3 days?

I'm not sure. They have plenty of food and are healthy if you're worried about that, I'm just curious what would happen.

 

[sourland]

I'm not sure. They have plenty of food and are healthy if you're worried about that, I'm just curious what would happen.

What would happen ? About the same that would happen to you. Want to give it a try ?

 

[brooke070512]

What would happen ? About the same that would happen to you. Want to give it a try ?

Well I don't really think that's necessary, but thanks anyways. Even so, I didn't eat much yesterday and I was getting extremely dizzy, my head would throb when I talked, my throat was hurting, and more, and that was just the one day with only eating a small piece of pizza or two. I didn't not eat on purpose, I just really honestly wasn't hungry. I don't know why you needed to know any of that, I'm sorry.

 

[MickiMifwest]

This seems like a really random topic! I could imagine some very hangry hens! Ours have food availabile all the time and still come running for treats when we go see them!