Chicken bald back

[veggiemad]

We had our 3 hens on the patio with hemcore down (FR for about 1 hour per day on lawn) but are now having a cnservatory built so they have moved on to the grass with 2 x 1m extensions as they cannot FR while builders are here.

 

I have noticed they dont seem to be eating as much food from their grub since the move. I've cut right down on treats, but wondered now they are on grass full time are they just eating more worms and bugs than before and not needing their pellets so much?

 

It hasnt affected egg production i dont think. Got 0 today but normally get 12 a week in total.

 

They must think its christmas come early if they're eating bugs all day!!!!

 

PS- I've tried scattering the pellets around so they scratch for them instead!!

x

[Jools]

It might affect their eating habits slightly but I wouldn't expect to notice that much difference tbh. Could it be anything to do with reduced daylight hours, ie less time to eat? I'm clutching at straws here!

[sjp]

I've noticed with my lot the days they've got a cabbage or pumpkin to peck at pellet comsumption goes up

[The Dogmother]

I think it may just be a coincidence that the move has come at the same time as the shorter days, when they lay less eggs and consequently eat less.

 

My gannets have gone from wolfing down a whole gravity feeder of pellets in 36 hours, to taking nearly twice as long to eat it all. They have stopped laying for the winter now, are taking a break and swapping knitting patterns and recipes. this is an annual routine for them.

[Goosey Lucy]

Claret said:

They have stopped laying for the winter now, are taking a break and swapping knitting patterns and recipes. this is an annual routine for them

 

 

Mine too!

[annieblue]

well my girls have obviously not caught up with Woman's Own or the Chook Weekly because they're still laying very regularly. 4 eggs yesterday, 3 the day before and nevr less than 2 each day. Got 6 ex batt chooks by the way.

 

Everyone tells me that they'll stop laying but they cartainly havent done so yet bless 'em

 

They've all got a decent covering of feathers now too so they actually look like chooks instead of prehistoric creatures.

[Chicken Shirl]

well my girls have obviously not caught up with Woman's Own or the Chook Weekly because they're still laying very regularly. 4 eggs yesterday, 3 the day before and nevr less than 2 each day. Got 6 ex batt chooks by the way.

 

Everyone tells me that they'll stop laying but they cartainly havent done so yet bless 'em

 

They've all got a decent covering of feathers now too so they actually look like chooks instead of prehistoric creatures.

 

 

Awwwwwwwwww bless them. xx

[The Dogmother]

If they are hybrids instead of pure breeds, then they'll be less likely to do a heavy moult or stop laying. Young birds of both types, which hatched after May this year normally wouldn't moult or stop laying either.

 

My girls have all nearly finished moulting now, the last one seems to have stopped laying and they won't start again until roughly the end of January. I like them to have the break as it gives them a rest and they're less likely to suffer from egg-related problems and will have better quality eggs next year. I just buy eggs from my friend's free-range farm