Henhathnofury Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 I am becoming a little concerned how hungry my hens appear to be all the time. They always have lots of Omlet pellets, plus treats in the afternoon such as warm porridge, cress growing in a container, sugar-free muesli and grapes. Yet they beg and beg - now they have taking to rapping on the cat flap that leads into the kitchen and peering in like peeping Toms. One makes a huge amount of noise and when they eat they sometimes fight and eat so quickly that it is gone in seconds. Both free-range all day 9-4 and they are always busy, rarely sit down and appear plump and well-nourished. There is also a lot of poo everywhere. One lays and we are waiting for the other lazy trollop. I am new to this poultry keeping and wondered if winter makes them hungrier. They are also eating plants that they had ignored before, whilst ignoring salad leaves I put out for them. Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Their appetite increases massively when they come into lay. so perhaps your other girl is on the brink. Cold weather is bound to increase their food requirements too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 i think chickens are just greedy little so and sos, ours have taken to tapping on the conservatory door leaving little chicken condensation marks on the glass, bless 'em! We give them plenty of layers mash, let them free range for about 30 mins a day plus they can forage for worms and insects in their run and they get sweetcorn in the afternoon, just before bed (and sometimes soaked bread mushed up with banana for brunch) but they'd still eat more if we let them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 Ah yes..tapping the conservatory door - mine do that too. I think that the hen may well be on the point of lay - she is the hungrier of the two. She has also started crouching so it must be approaching. I just feel stupidly guilty that they might be hungry but I am giving them access to a lot of food. My other half laughed at me today, he called me up and I was fretting about Mrs Greedy. 'She's eating her porridge like an animal,' I said. There really is no reply to that one. I also feel ridiculously excited by the thought of my feisty girl finally laying. We have waited six weeks and I feel like an expectant parent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Ours too tap on the cat flap - or even an ankle if we're in the garden. They eat anything and everything in sight. Basically, they are eating machines with feathers! They certainly eat more once they come into lay and also when it's colder. You're just the victim of a double whammy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Yep, my 4 are all little eating machines, and will tap on the cat flap demanding catfood.... atleast winter has stopped them shouting with egg noise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 It's what they do well, just make sure that the main part of their diet is their pellets and only give treats in the afternoon. Fat hens don't lay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I'm always amazed at how much they can eat! I gave them a plate full of lettuce, tomatoes, spaghetti, raisins topped off with a little grated cheese yesterday before they went back to the run and they still made a beeline (chickenline) for the grub when they got shut away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 My chooks are eating me out of house and home at the moment, including each other feathers. I read somewhere that this is a sign of a protein deficiency, so tried catfood for the first time which they wolfed down. Are there any particular types which are better than others and what other protein sources can I give them? They are all laying loads of good sized eggs at the moment. They eat mainly layers pellets with some cabbage or other greens every day and a little corn before bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 the best protein source for that is chick crumbs; still vegetarian and stacked with protein. I mix it in wirth their pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I'm always amazed at how much they can eat! I gave them a plate full of lettuce, tomatoes, spaghetti, raisins topped off with a little grated cheese yesterday before they went back to the run and they still made a beeline (chickenline) for the grub when they got shut away Sounds yum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Sounds yum! Should I add it to the "all things nice" recipe section do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Will try some chick crumbs thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 It's what they do well, just make sure that the main part of their diet is their pellets and only give treats in the afternoon. Fat hens don't lay! Spot on. really good advice. I feed mine pellets in the morning, then give them some corn in the afternoon. I let them out of the run onto the grass in the afternoon so they get some green. If I have any pasta left over I will give them some, but its quite a rare treat. what was the original question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Mine turn their beaks up at everything except layers mash and dried mealworms. They ate some tinned sweetcorn but only when it was coated in mash. I've tried them with broccoli, sprouts, carrots, potatoes, corn on the cob, raisins, porridge and tuna. The tuna gave them a bit of excitement as George, who normally stays well away from them, couldn't resist reaching into the run with his paw - he got hen-pecked! I will try them on chick crumbs as I think I read somewhere that they need protein to help grow feather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I will try them on chick crumbs as I think I read somewhere that they need protein to help grow feather. I read that too Rona. Should help with the feathers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Mine turn their beaks up at everything except layers mash and dried mealworms. They ate some tinned sweetcorn but only when it was coated in mash. I've tried them with broccoli, sprouts, carrots, potatoes, corn on the cob, raisins, porridge and tuna. The tuna gave them a bit of excitement as George, who normally stays well away from them, couldn't resist reaching into the run with his paw - he got hen-pecked! I will try them on chick crumbs as I think I read somewhere that they need protein to help grow feather. If they are getting their layers mash I wouldn't worry too much. I think its good for them to have some green stuff, but most of what they need is in the layers stuff I think. Also, you may well see them eat shed feathers; good recycling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Thanks for replies, I think I need to stop worrying about trying to get them to eat all sorts of different types of food. After all, I am very fussy about what I feed my cats as don't like them having human type food s"Ooops, word censored!"s - and I was even more strict when we had a dog! So, from now on, the hens can have unlimited chicken feed and their afternoon treat of dried mealworms,which is as much of a treat for us as them as watching them 'elbow' each other out the way with their beam ends is our afternoon entertainment (sad, I know). I will keep trying them on greens though, especially broccoli as I understand that it is the lutein in green veg that makes nice rich yellow egg yolks. So long as there is plenty of layers mash available they will just eat and poo all day long - and lay an egg more or less every other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Yes Rona, the darker green the food stuff, the more orange the yolk. Try curly kale, mine love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
