Are my chins eating too much?

[JamaisVu]

I read that 2 tablespoons of feed per chin was the standard, so that's what I had been going with.

I don't really measure it anymore, since I figured out that it's about the entire bottom of their food bowl covered up.

However, I've check their bowl before I leave in the mornings and several times I've found out it's empty.

They get fresh hay every day (which they finish off daily, too), and I keep hay cubes in their cage as well (I've seen them nibbling on them quite often).

I feel bad leaving their bowl empty, so I usually toss in a bit more, but I'm not sure if I should. Are they eating too much? Should I limit it?

 

[tunes]

Chins really don't overeat. I don't measure feed, I dump it in the feeder until it's at the top then I refresh it as it goes down. Chins don't always eat an entire pellet. They take a bite and toss, take a bite and toss. They also, if you use a bowl rather than a hanging feeder, dump 3/4 of the pellets into their bedding.

 

[Anna]

Hahaha, agreed to what Tunes said about dumping the pellets out. One of my chins literally tips the bowl over in his cage. I usually just fill it to the top when it's empty, and change it daily anyway )

 

[andreya]

I used to have a chin whose favorite game was digging the food out of his bowl and watching it fall down to the bottom of the cage.

 

[Shooper]

I just keep the bowl full always! They have an all you can eat buffet of pellets, wood and hay!

 

[Terbear24]

I always just keep the bowls full. So you would definitely be ok to put some more food in there when you feed them.

 

[Wynott86]

HAHAHA. That sounds like the baby that throws their spoon on the floor just to watch you pick it up! Priceless story.

 

[JamaisVu]

Thanks everybody!

I'll definitely put more food in, then

I'd rather have them have extra instead of less than.

 

[Randy-Chin]

All my chins are fed 3 tablespoons daily.

Breeders get 3, but if feeder is empty I will add 1 more to the feeder.

 

[summerdays]

i also keep their food bowls full, they won't overeat.. througout my life i have had 10, and never once saw one overeat,, some days they will, however, eat more than otherrs, thats normal.

 

[jbcstratton]

My chins are free fed as well.

 

[Jenn]

My chin is also fed freely.

 

[Katie_2013]

I usually check my chin's bowl before I leave for school in the morning, if it is running low I add a handful to it.

 

[Khammy]

My girls are fed freely, but my boy gets a few spoonfuls at a time. It's not overeating that's the problem with him, he just likes to dig it out of his bowl and toss it all over the place. Rotten little bugger

 

[bchins]

I have some chins that dig their food out too! I don't get why!
Anyhow, my chins are also free-fed.