whole flock has stopped eating

[RedfogsFlock]

It is now day 4, and not one of hens has eaten. Yesterday when I went out to feed, my neighbor stopped me and asked if I had stopped feeding the chickens veges. I was like , no? He said he gave them their weekly veges box and they had no interest in it. As a matter of fact the veges were still there a few hours later. I went out this morning and there was still quite a bit of feed still on the ground from last night. The wild birds are eating very well though.

Anyone have an idea if this is normal behavior? I've had this flock for close to five years now, and they are well established. They hatch out their own chicks and all. I've had chickens for almost 8 years now and this is a first for me.

Flock Specs. . .

17 hens 2 polish, 1 leghorn, 2 buffs, & 12 silkies
1 rooster silkie roo

Drinking water,. . . . . yes but very little
standing in their water. . . . yes
laying . . . . yes
no runny noses
no gaping
no discharge of any kind
no open wounds

eating feed & veges,. . . no
free range, & coop
not lethargic
no deaths
some are molting

have 2 broodies right now
I have hens from 4 months to 7 years

 

[centrarchid]

Temperature?

Free-range? Possible heavy duty insect hatch going on? My birds ignore feeding stations when insect hatch heavy.

Feel crop to see volume tonight then again early in morning. Report then.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

It is hot here in the 100's As for my hens they are hot but have a misting system & their water. When it gets to hot we give them frozen 2 liters to cuddle with & in their water.
Haven't thought of the insect hatching. We have had a lot of rain lately & the bugs have been out in full force. Oh and yes, our flock gets to free range.

I will check crops tonight & report tomorrow afternoon. When I get home.

 

[centrarchid]

Check second time before birds come off roost rather noon. Will indicate whether crops emptying as they should be. Will rule out some weird mass cropbound issue. Doing check at noon will no be informative.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

I checked their crops last night. They were all pretty full. I have a chick or two that isn't quite full but full enough. I also checked this morning before they go to snooping and all felt empty.

So I guess they are ok? Just maybe too hot out for them to eat a bunch.? No one seems to be in any stress at all either. Just really weird, never had a flock do this. They are eating just not their layena I guess. I don't feed scratch in the summer here as it raises their temp, & i'm sure they are hot enough. Instead we do fresh veges, & fruits.