Chickens not eating: how to find the cause
A drop in feed intake is one of the earliest signs that something is wrong, but the cause is often simple: empty or blocked feeders, spoiled or newly changed feed, no clean water, heat stress, or overcrowding. Illness is also possible, especially when the birds are quiet, ruffled or dying. Feed intake usually falls before birds look sick, so acting on it early is valuable.
Updated 25 August 2026 · Independent veterinary review scheduled
Get qualified help immediately if you see
- Birds also stop drinking.
- Deaths starting alongside the drop in feed intake.
- Birds sitting quiet, hunched or unable to stand.
- Watery, bloody or unusually coloured droppings across the flock.
Check these in order
- Water first — birds that cannot drink will not eat. Check flow, cleanliness and the number of drinkers.
- Feed availability — empty feeders, feeders too high, or too few feeder spaces for the flock.
- Feed quality — a new batch, a different brand, mouldy smell, caking, or feed stored in a damp place.
- Heat — birds eat far less in hot afternoons and will make it up in the cool hours.
- Space and stocking — crowded birds at the back of the house may never reach the feeder.
- Health — quiet birds, ruffled feathers, changed droppings, or deaths alongside the drop in intake.
How much of a drop matters
Normal daily intake varies with age, so compare against your own records rather than a fixed number. A gentle dip on a hot day that recovers by evening is usually manageable. A drop of roughly a fifth or more that lasts more than a day, or one that comes with deaths, needs proper attention.
Have these answers ready
Whether you ask KukuVet or call a vet, these are the questions you will be asked.
- How old are the birds and how many are in the house?
- How much feed did they eat yesterday compared with the day before?
- Are they still drinking?
- Did the feed batch, brand or supplier change recently?
- How hot has the house been?
- Any deaths, unusual droppings or other signs?
Safe things you can do today
- Give clean, cool water in enough drinkers and refresh it during the hottest hours.
- Empty, clean and refill feeders, and add extra feeder space if birds are crowding.
- Smell and look at the feed for mould, caking or a damp storage area.
- Reduce heat: open the house, increase airflow and avoid disturbing birds in the afternoon.
- Record daily feed intake so you can see the trend rather than guessing.
Every farm is different — describe yours
KukuVet asks one short question at a time, then gives you a plan for your birds. Free to start, in English or Kiswahili.
Example: “My 300 layers ate much less feed since yesterday and two birds are quiet.”
Common questions
My birds eat at night but not during the day. Is that a problem?
In hot weather this is normal behaviour. Make sure feed and cool water are available in the early morning and evening, and keep the house as cool as possible during the day.
Can changing feed brands cause this?
Yes. Birds often eat less for a day or two after a feed change. Change gradually where you can by mixing old and new feed over several days.
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About this page
Published 25 August 2026 · Updated 25 August 2026 · Next review 25 February 2027
Sources consulted
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Poultry — respiratory, digestive and management disorders
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Poultry Development Review — small-scale poultry health and husbandry
KukuVet helps you organise what you are seeing and decide what to do next. It does not diagnose disease and does not replace a qualified poultry veterinarian, especially where birds are dying.