Yet Another Feeding Question...

[Bettyboop7499]

Hello All,

I've noticed since I've moved my chicken outside into their coop and run (they are approx 12weeks) they don't eat their pellets(Purina Omega 3 blend) anymore. They will eat corn and grass-they love grass- and scraps, worms, any misfortunate bug that happens to fly into their run, grains that have been germinated, and each other's fallen feathers but will not touch the pellets. I don't think they are too big because I've seen them swallow a half green bean!

They haven't started laying yet, so how do I know if they are getting enough food? Every time They hear my voice they come running, like they are starving! I hope they are not! What are some tell-tell signs that they are nogetting enough to eat if they are not in laying age yet?

 

[chickengirl778]

If they are not getting enough to eat, their poop might be kind of runny and they might feel lighter than usual. Is the feeder getting emptied? Mine usually run to me if they when I have the feeder and they know I've refilled it.

 

[featheredplanets]

Are you feeding layers pellets? Feather eating, I would assume if it’s straight off the floor, would indicate low protein.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Their poo is solid and the only thing they finish in just few minutes is corn on the cob or germinated grains about 1.5 cups. It seems to take them a couple of days to eat the corn or oats that I put down for them. And I only throw approx. 2.5 cups down.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Are you feeding layers pellets? Feather eating, I would assume if it’s straight off the floor, would indicate low protein.

They've eaten each other's fallen feather se
Once they were old enough to eat..

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Stop feeding grains until they start eating the pellets. Once they get back to real feed you can go back to some grains as a treat but keep it as a treat not using as a feed. As in what you give them should be eaten up in few minutes as a treat not there all day, that would be feeding them grain.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

So I just tossed out about two cups of cooked ancient grains and cracked corn...they gobbled up the cook grains and left the corn...

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Stop feeding grains until they start eating the pellets. Once they get back to real feed you can go back to some grains as a treat but keep it as a treat not using as a feed. As in what you give them should be eaten up in few minutes as a treat not there all day, that would be feeding them grain.

Thank you. I will try that. Does that include grass?-I throw grass trimming in their run-would that be a treat?

 

[obicat]

Until they eat the pellets consistently just give them that.

I've got 10 bantams, 1 of which are just chicks, and they get roughly 25gms of mixed corn and seeds a day between them. I spread it out so they have to hunt it out. Its a treat for them, not their main source of nutrition

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've noticed since I've moved my chicken outside into their coop and run (they are approx 12weeks) they don't eat their pellets(Purina Omega 3 blend)

Your chicks at 12 weeks of age should still be getting Start & Grow feed, till 18 weeks or the first egg.

Too much Calcium and not enough Protein in a layers feed like Purina Layena Plus Omega 3, for twelve week old's. IMO. GC