Would this be in the guidelines of feed to treats?

[snow5164]

I don't want them to get obese, since they can not free range, due to predators and the landlord's chicken killing dog.

You don’t need to be concerned I’ve not heard of chickens being obese from their feed , it’s all the extras that people think they need that add extra fat to their bodies . Sure if you want to measure their food everyday that’s great , I just keep the feeders full.

And you’re right a little scratch in the cold evenings to get them up and moving is a great idea , it could even just be their own feed they love anything from your hand !

Have fun with those birds

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

You don’t need to be concerned I’ve not heard of chickens being obese from their feed , it’s all the extras that people think they need that add extra fat to their bodies . Sure if you want to measure their food everyday that’s great , I just keep the feeders full.

And you’re right a little scratch in the cold evenings to get them up and moving is a great idea , it could even just be their own feed they love anything from your hand !

Have fun with those birds

Thank You. Now I have it straight, won't over eat and get obese on their feed, it's all the treats given. I know too much treats will bring down the nutritional value of the feed. I don't give many treats, no matter how much they beg
Love watching them. Just waiting for the Golden Comets to lay their first eggs. They are 17 weeks.

 

[Mosey2003]

Chickens can and do become obese, and it's very bad for them. But generally if they're only getting feed and less than 10% scratch, they'll be fine.
I have an acquaintance that was always giving oatmeal and everything she could get her hands on in the kitchen to her chickens, and those hens literally looked like bowling balls. She called me over to see if I could figure out what sort of disease they had, they kept dying. No disease, she fed them to death (it caused egg binding and then egg yolk peritonitis).

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

In the beginning the three older hens looked more like lanky awkward teens, even though they were 2.5 years old when we took them in. They had to mostly fend for themselves. I would throw them parrot food (the stuff the parrot wouldn't eat). One neighbor did buy a bag of flock feed shortly before the original landlord gave to us when he was back.They gave me the bag of food. But we threw it away. They kept it outside in the rain. Was wet & moldy. Plus rats and possums were seen coming out of the bag.
I don't give a lot of treats to any of our animals. With the heat this summer I did give them each a frozen large strawberry close to the heat of the day, and chicken gatoraide with chicken gatoraide ice cubes.
As with us too much of a tasty food/treat can be harmful in the end.