Chicken picking at feet

[ChickNic]

Hi everyone,

 

The past couple of weeks our 2 chickens have been eating loads - at least half a grub a day! Could there be a reason for this? i was thinking they might have worms, but they seem perfectly healthy otherwise. We bring in the grub at night and there are no signs of rat activity.

 

Thanks in advance,

Nicky.

[TAJ]

Once they start laying they eat more & mine it loads more if in the run all day.

 

Tracy

[..lay a little egg for me]

I agree with Tracy. My four eat over 1 litre (I use a measuring jug to scoop it out of the bag) a day...three are laying...when none were laying they ate about half this amount. However, I've worked out we've had over £16-worth of eggs so far and haven't finished our first bag of feed yet

[ChickNic]

They have been laying for 8 months already so I don't think it's because they have started laying (they did increase once they started). It has only been the last couple of weeks that they have got so hungry. Omlet say that the grub is supposed to hold enough food for a weekend away (and usually holds more than enough) but it's all gone in a day and a half at the moment.

[Stevie]

I have two chooks,but only Sage my Pepperpot is laying and she is a right chuffer! She dont stop eating!!! Onion my Gingernut has only just started crouching so hopefully will start this week and her food consumption will go up too.

[jjjj]

I thought our 2 girls had increased the amount of pellets they were eating each day, then I watched as Penny just scooped the food out of the grub onto the floor of the run. She did eat some of this but a lot was left.

 

Could your girls be doing this?

 

Just a thought.

 

jjjj

[Hen Watch]

Do you think it is because of the longer, lighter days...... more grazing time???

[TAJ]

JJJJ - I also have one who thinks it is her job to use her beak as a scoop and to try and empty the grub onto the floor and then eat 10% of it! Now I can only half fill the grub at the most.

 

Tracy

[Scotty]

Do chickens eat constantly or do they know when they are full? mine go crazy as soon as I step out of the door, they eat more than the whole family in fact!

[landgirl]

Do you think it is because of the longer, lighter days...... more grazing time???

 

I also think it's the longer hours of daylight. I noticed it with mine too. They're up for a lot longer, so they eat for longer.

 

LG

[ChickNic]

Yes could indeed be the longer days. Mine did the scooping and throwing on the floor for a while, but I placed the grub a little highers and they don't tend to do it as much!