Help - Feeding

[DuncanIan]

Hi , i am getting some ex-bats . Not sure how much to feed them or if you should put food in the coop or just the run . ~Please advise

[Suechooks]

They are used to having layers meal but you can probably crush up some layers pellets to begin with till they get used to them. I feed ad lib from a plastic feeder (the green and white one) and keep it topped up. Leave it in the run but make sure its under cover so it doesn't get wet. They will need somewhere to shelter in the run as they really don't understand "outside" or rain etc. Make sure there is always clean water available too preferably out of direct sun. Have a look on the BHWT web site. There is good advice on caring for ex-batts

[davefromthechipie]

I'd keep food outside ,Last thing you need is rats in the henhouse . Also chickens dont seem to go in there house much and making them go in for food will only make more mess for you to clean up.

They will eat what they need so i have found they just get fat if you keep treating them bread/oats/pasta etc...

[sheena]

I got my ex-batts just over 2 weeks ago... i started them on layers mash, which I found later on was pellets crushed up.
About 3 days in, I started to add a little mash to the main pellet's that i was going to feed them.

In the last week, they have treats virtually everyday (i'm a bad mummy).
But they have had cabbage, toast, baguette (mixed with chopped tin tomatoes), meal worm, spaghetti, and tonight i made them porridge and mixed in some oyster shell to see how they did. Don't overdo it on the treats tho, or they will become obese. And try only to give later in the afternoon, there is a reason why, but can't remember why.
Bit like us when we eat too many fry ups lol.

No food to be placed in the house, less mess that way.

How many you getting? I have 4, and use a smaller feeder than i'm spose to use, I think it's a 1.5kg, ut it seems to do them well, as half the food ends up on the floor anyway even tho it is hanging.
The water mushroom is apparently 1.5litre, although i think my hubby is pulling my plonker on that one, i'm sure its 3 litre.
These get topped up every evening after they have gone to bed, so they are available 1st thing in the morning.

I'm sure that if I have missed anything, someone else will tell you. I'm not exactly as knowledgable as the rest the group, but you have come to the right place.

Enjoy your chooks.

[frias]

Hi and welcome to the vine. I have had my ex-batts for a year and love them to bits. I never put food or water in their house as other than sleeping and laying eggs in the nest box they never go into the house. The green and white feeders are very good as you can hang them and once the girls are on pellets they don't make so much mess as they do with layers mash. I started mine on mash and gradually introduced pellets as this was what I was advised by BHWT. I never measure the food just keep it topped up and they can have as much as they want. This will vary according to how much they free range and how many treats you give them.I have a proper water container but the girls much prefer a bucket and the water stays cleaner too as the girls can't get their feet in it.

[Hans Mum]

my ex-batt girls get their layer pellets on a morning (i use a kids ikea beaker as a measure and give 1 beaker full per bird per day) and then if theyve eaten them all i give them some treats at about 5pm - if theyre going to be confined to their run all day i hang some greens up for them to peck at and to relieve boredom - asothers have said no food or drink in their house

[Glutton4...]

I read recently that it is illegal to feed ANY food that comes from or via your kitchen to your Chooks! Even to the point of taking your outer Cabbage leaves off when you pick it and give it direct, don't take it into the kitchen to cut them off. It is therefore also illegal to feed porridge, mash or pasta if it is made in the kitchen, and scraps and leftovers are a no-no too!

Daft innit ?

[frias]

Of course, but it's not illegal to feed the wild birds and those thieving chooks............

[Glutton4...]

Aaaah, Yes - a different viewpoint is always an advantage LOL

[Eyren]

I read recently that it is illegal to feed ANY food that comes from or via your kitchen to your Chooks!

IIRC it's illegal to feed your hens any scraps from a kitchen where meat has been prepared - it's a DEFRA directive aimed at preventing cross-contamination of poultry by e.g. salmonella. Sensible in its own way, but has the bizarre effect that vegetarians and vegans can feed scraps to their (omnivorous) chickens, but we meat-eaters can't.

I don't think DEFRA are going to send the heavies round for the sake of a couple of home chooks, though! Just don't go selling your eggs to all and sundry...

[sheena]

Well that is just daft!
Good job I don't sell my eggs then... never have any left over to sell for a start!

[Glutton4...]

I sell my 'eggtras' (sorry ) - it pays for their feed, but my 'Laydees' don't get treats now! It has all but wiped-out the egg-eating problem (apart from the softies), thankfully. They just have 'ad-lib' pellets, and a hand-full of corn in the evenings. I guess mine are lucky that my Dad has more back lawn than he can cope with, so they get fresh grass all day.

Some laws do seem strange...