Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: ezlingling on October 17, 2017, 04:10

Title: Is she eating too much?
Post by: ezlingling on October 17, 2017, 04:10
Hello all,
My question is regarding my 22 week old hen. I give them a couple of table spoons of natural yogurt in the morning, this week I've been giving them cauliflower, tomato and cantaloupe in the mornings and they have access to layer pellets all day. They are free ranging from 7am to 6pm. She has been laying for about 6 days (the last 2 have been big!) I check their crop every morning before I let them out, its always empty. But during the day its huge! These are my first chickens so I'm not experienced but I'm comparing her crop size to the other hen. The other hen is around the size of a golf ball. This hens is almost grapefruit size. She has found a sweet spot in the garden where she finds a lot of frogs. I find it hard to measure out pellets as my cats are often caught eating it as well.
Is she just over stuffing herself? Do I need to start portion control? Can it become a problem?  The attached picture was taken at midday.
Thank you  :)
Title: Re: Is she eating too much?
Post by: New shoot on October 17, 2017, 08:19
Hi ezlingling  :)

If the other hen is not laying, she will be eating less.  Your healthy eater is just compensating for the calories expended in egg laying.  So long as she is bright eyed, active and happy, all is well.  Mine often stuff themselves like this during the day.

If she stops eating and looks depressed, a big crop like that can mean it is impacted but you will notice the difference in her behaviour, plus her crop will still be full first thing in the morning.
Title: Re: Is she eating too much?
Post by: ezlingling on October 18, 2017, 04:33
Hi ezlingling  :)

If the other hen is not laying, she will be eating less.  Your healthy eater is just compensating for the calories expended in egg laying.  So long as she is bright eyed, active and happy, all is well.  Mine often stuff themselves like this during the day.

If she stops eating and looks depressed, a big crop like that can mean it is impacted but you will notice the difference in her behaviour, plus her crop will still be full first thing in the morning.
Hello.  Thank you! I love them so much, I don't want anything to happen to them so I freak out over the tiniest little things.  :)