When to feed chickens?

[mason123h]

I have nine chickens and I have a nice coop with a feeder elevated just high enough for the chickens to reach with craned necks, and it is full all the time. However, when ever I go outside past their pen, they always swarm towards me hoping for a treat, but I really don't understand why. They have plenty of feed in the house, and it cost money to throw more into the pen. Any ideas on tastey chicken treats around my house in gardens and things. And whether I should throw feed into the pen when the come.

Thanks!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Chickens are like kids--they are going to work you for goodies every time you go by. Mine whine every time I open the door or step outside to do something. You can give them treats. Leftovers that are still good but nobody wants to eat, vegetables, fruit, yogurt, cabbage. scratch, boss. There is a list on the forum of foods that chickens can eat. Mine will do anything, absolutely anything, for grapes!!! I supplement their pellets with extra protein and discounted veges and fruit from the supermarket as it is winter and they cant freerange right now. That being said, treats should be in moderation, like all things. Fat chickens dont lay well. If you are worried about spending money on treats, ask the local supermarket for the produce they cant sell. I spoil my girls but not to excess. They only get treats a few days a week...despite them whining and trying to guilt me into treating them more often!!!

 

[Judy]

Because they're chickens!

Although, "craned necks" makes me wonder if it is a bit high for them. It should be at the level of their back, or where their shoulders would be, if they had shoulders. But maybe that's what you mean.

I don't throw feed on the ground, or hardly ever, anyway, except their treats, depending what I have. Mine run up to me any time I go outside, I'm sure in case I have a treat. Yet, usually I give treats once a day, in the morning, and then it's not a lot of food, a couple of small handfuls. It's like they are programmed to go for food even if their crop is fat as a tennis ball.

 

[BarefootMom]

My chickens get the scraps in the mornings. By scraps I mean whatever is leftover from supper, lunch, and breakfast rom the day before. They always have feed in a small automatic hog feeder at their access plus they free range daily. Everytime I open the door they flock at me because they are spoiled rotten. As for treats- I haven't found anything that they won't eat.

 

[riverman]

Just adding my favorite treats I give my ladies & gents that have a good nutritional value to them!

Pecans, Garden vegetable scraps(anything), their eggshells, yea.. pretty much anything from mother nature.

 

[SparksNV]

Mine usually get their treats (usually a little cracked corn and BOSS) when I want them to come back to their run. I let them out about once a day into the backyard to forge a little. When I am ready to head them back to the run (where their coop is), I load up a large cup with the treats, shake it and call "Here chickie, chickie, chickie!" They come running as fast as their fluffly behinds will let them! I give them their treat, close the gate, they are in their run and happy as can be!

I also do something similar with one of my pugs. Brees (the small one in my avatar) is not totally reliable in the house if we are not home. So, when we leave I crate her. I get her favorite treat out and she runs just as fast as she can for her crate & she is waiting in the crate for the treat. Close the door to the crate & leave the house to run errands! BTW, Cooper (the bigger pug) gets a treat as I leave the house, too.

Carol

 

[dragonlair]

It's cold here these days so mine get their regular food in the morning along with warm water (no electricity in the chicken area). Just before I go to work (3-11) I give them a warm wet meal of layer mash, warm water, fruit juice, oil and dry cat food soaked in water for the day. I mix it all up, add other stuff like flax seed, oatmeal, left overs, ground eggs shells, spaghetti, hard boiled eggs, garlic, cayenne pepper...and so on. I divide this among the 3 pens, and they go crazy for it! It's all good for them and I know they go to roost with a full crop. They also get fresh water 3 times a day. I usually have to break out the ice blocks between waterings, so I have an igloo of round ice blocks surrounding the chicken area!