[Hitman]

Hi all,

This is my first year if chicken keeping so please forgive my questions.

My 3 cream legbars were POL in July when I got them.  They were eating approx 100g of layers pellets per day each.  That equated to a large scoop full.

However, since they stopped laying, about a week ago, they all seem to be off their food.  Is this normal?

I have read about 'moulting' but there doesn't seem to be an excess of feathers lying about and although one had runny poo a few days ago, the others' waste products seem fine.  If I give them a few meal worms, or mixed corn later in the day they eat that, but not like they are starving.

They seem as active as ever, they go to bed as normal and get up in a morning.  They have access to plenty of fresh water (treated with either cider vinegar or the oregano based product) from two separate sources.

I'm not sure whether I should be worried or not but surely they should be eating something.  I forgot to say they are in an enclosed run so the only source of food is the pellets.

As ever, your advice and experiences would be very welcome.

Hitman

[New shoot]

Hens do cut their food consumption down a lot when they are off lay.  It is a really noticeable difference, but there are a couple of things you could check.

Do you bring their food in at night?  It is worth doing as it encourages rats and mice if not and at this time of year, slugs and snails.  If the food is covered in slime trails, they may turn their beaks up at it.

The other is worming.  If they haven't been wormed for a while, it may be worth doing.  A heavy worm burden does make them off colour and they can go off food.

If neither of the above applies and they have access to good food and fresh water, I would say it is just their normal behaviour.  You might want to cut down on the treats though.  They will eat corn and mealworms over pellets every time 

[Sassy]

Are you giving the cider vinegar all the time? One week a month is recommended.

[Hitman]

Thank you for the responses.

They were wormed just a couple of weeks ago and the food is in a contraption that opens when they step on a plate (to stop vermin getting in).

The cider vinegar water is in a large dripper drinker which is available at all times. It takes then a few weeks to get through this as it is so large and the bell drinker (if that's what they are called) is fresh water, but they do tend to mess in this so it is changed daily.  Both devices drop in level so I assume they are drinking both.

It sounds like I should stop worrying and see how they go.

Manny thanks

Hitman

[grinling]

try to hang the water feeders.
they might also be having a moult,Sprout did this in her 1st year, feathers everywhere this year.

[Hitman]

Thank you for the replies.  I am now being told by a local "expert" that as they stop laying she stops feeding layers pellets and moves to mixed corn.  Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

Many thanks.

[New shoot]

I feed good quality layers pellets year round. 

When I first got bantams, they came from someone who fed mixed corn year round and they just wouldn't eat the pellets, so I continued with this, adding in lots of other seeds and greens to their diet.  The breeder had huge pens with grass, shrubs and trees.  Almost mini fields surrounded by electric fences, so the birds got a lot of food they found themselves, which mine did not get the chance to do so much.

I then got some new birds and they liked pellets, so I got these back in again.  Once the older girls saw the younger ones tucking in, they joined in and so I switched to the more usual mix of pellets being the main food and a handful of corn as a treat now and then.

Long story short, they did perfectly well on either diet, so I wouldn't like to say your local expert is wrong, but pellets are a balanced feed with lots of added extras.  Corn is just carbs and can make hens too fat.  They will need their vitamins as well, so free ranging or add to their diet as I did 

[Sassy]

Pellets are a balanced diet and I would feed all year round. Ok to give a handful of corn before bedtime as this will help to keep them warm at night. Ant changes of diet should be done slowly, this includes changing feed brands 

[pekinpete]

sassy i do every thing you do but feed mixed corn as a treat before bed time i know maize tends to put a bit of weight on but at winter time and birds not laying i find a bit of fat on birds is ok only change to wheat at spring time and they start laying

[Beekissed]

Thank you for the replies.  I am now being told by a local "expert" that as they stop laying she stops feeding layers pellets and moves to mixed corn.  Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

Many thanks.

Some people change feeds for winter months, particularly if laying slows, just to save on money.  The birds are expending less energy all the way around, so their nutritive needs have changed.  I wouldn't stop feeding at least 33%-50% of their ration a balanced feed but I see nothing wrong in giving 50%-69% whole grains with that.  Not necessarily corn, as layer feed has plenty of corn in it already, but if that's what's cheap in your area it won't hurt. 

I cut my layer mash 50/50 with oats or barley in the winter months and also add a little BOSS for more fat content and fiber.  My birds are going into the winter fat on forage~gets them fatter than any feed I could give, so I don't worry too much about having to put fat on them.  Old timers around here always swear by feeding oats in the winter months to encourage better lay and, so far, that's panned out for me as well. 

[Sassy]

try to hang the water feeders.

I used to hang my waterers and it does keep them clean. I stopped doing it when I realised when it was windy and they were blowing they emptied! Depends on your set up.

I found the best containers for water were small buckets, the type horse supplements can come in. Chooks can reach easily, they do not get knocked over, much easier to clean and you can get the ice out in the winter. Oh and they are free and you would be recycling.

[Hitman]

Thank you.  Can I ask - what is BOSS?

[New shoot]

Can I ask - what is BOSS?

Black oil sunflower seed