What do you think to this feed?

[bluemoon]

I just looked at the local feed merchant's web-site and they do a 'Complete Poultry Food', which comprises; layers' pellets, maize, wheat and oyster shell. What do you think? It's described as a complete feed for people with small flocks. They don't use drugs or artificial pigments in their feeds, which is important to me. They do do a bog-standard layers' pellet too.

[Glutton4...]

I would say try it and see! I prefer to give ad-lib Layers' Pellets, and it is worth reading the contents on the packet, because they (should) contain everything a Hen needs, including vitamins and grit. I do give a small amount of Corn in the evening as a treat. Luckily mine are on grass, which they pick at all day.

Having had egg-eating problems early on, I am keen to keep mine on a sensible diet. Hens, like most other animals (including myself ) have a tendency to eat more of what they prefer over something else, so you may end up with fat non-laying Hens if they choose to eat all the corn and leave the rest. Good luck.

[Bephlam]

Yeah, I'd be careful with that feed. My girls would pick out all the goodies and leave the bog standard pellet if it was all contained mixed in a bag. The layers pellets have everything your hen needs...in small, identical pellets...so the girls don't pick and choose what they eat.

Be cautious...you don't want fat, non egg laying hens!

[davefromthechipie]

Yeah, I'd be careful with that feed. My girls would pick out all the goodies and leave the bog standard pellet if it was all contained mixed in a bag. The layers pellets have everything your hen needs...in small, identical pellets...so the girls don't pick and choose what they eat.

Be cautious...you don't want fat, non egg laying hens!

I agree Bephlam . I gave mine mixed corn mix like bluemoon said about ( as a treat ) and they loved it to much ..... yet was left over with dust bits they didnt eat.
But then you can get organic layers pellets ,that sounds like a good pick for you ,But id stay away from the lose corn mix feed

[HappyGreen]

I prefer feeding them separately - pellets in the dry feeder and wheat and barley soaked (my birds are ducks but some folks soak them for chicks as well), oystershell grit mixed with the pellets. Most pellets already contain that but I find that my birds get less problems with additional helpings. It's easier to check that they don't "overdose " on the pellets and top up with grains instead. You have less control if it's all in a oner. Spending the extra money on mixed corn alone was a waste as they don't like maize - the wild birds took those lol, it's wheat and barley now.

[Bephlam]

See how varied all our opinions are...proves there's not right or wrong way to care for your chicken!!

I feed mine layers pellets...with additional grit...mixed corn and freshly prepared veggies, porridge, yoghurt, etc (as you're not allowed to feed scraps )

It works for me...so maybe your separate feed thing will work for you. Just think as a 'virgin' chicken owner you should keep it as simple as possible, then experiment when you're more experienced...because...you'll be worrying about worrying when they arrive for a while. Cut down on as many unnecessary worries at the get go...to leave you to worry about the other nothings!

[bluemoon]

Right, I'll just go for the layers pellets and give corn as treats then. I had wondered about the possibility of them selective feeding if they had everything mixed, which is why I asked...our rabbit does it if he 's given mixed feed instead of pellets. I'm off to buy the feed this afternoon and this time tomorrow I'll be collecting the girls!

[Bephlam]

Oooo...bet you're eggcited!!

[bluemoon]

Bet I don't sleep! I've got the feed, I've bought larger feeders and drinkers because the feed merchant sold them, I've got Aubiose (sp?) bedding. I've told Coco and Elvis. And I've even got boxes this time. I want to set off first thing in the morning, but OH is on nights and is insisting on sleeping for a few hours first. Men!

[lynda66]

mine have all been brought up on mixed feeding, but i combated the picking the good bits out by turning it into a mash and mixing it, that way they eat it all,(pellets, veggies, cat biccies, meat, rice, pasta or anything else available) they then have as many dry pellets as they want in between getting up, a late breakfast and tea, then they spend most of the day in the garden and get greens, veggies or fruit after their tea ... the girls have finally started eating them

maybe we shouldn't put human feelings on them, but they always look forward to their healthy yummies and don't even notice when i fill the pellets up

and as far as getting fat goes, there wasn't an ounce of fat on buttercup, maybe cos they spend most of the day running round the garden?

good luck with the girls, i may have to tap yoy for some eggs lol ... i think coco and elvis's babies will be lovely

[bluemoon]

The boys will still eat anything and everything, Lynda. But I'm not sure the new girls will be so easygoing. They've been raised on a farm and it wasn't even a poultry farm until the chap realized that there was money to be had breeding and selling chickens. OH used to know him when they were kids, so they had a good natter when we first approached him and I think he does try and breed sound, healthy stock, but he's certainly not going to have put the TLC into it that you did. I just hope that they follow the boys example and at least try a mixed diet. I hope that when they see how laid back the boys are too they'll become just as calm and cuddly.
I think Coco and Elvis babies will be lovely too.

[lynda66]

oh yeah hadn't thought of that lol mind you when the girls see coco and elvis tucking in, they'll probably eat anything too .... mine are eating so much less now the boys have gone lol ... about a 1/3 or less than they were before, and they are much more suspicious of food ... tis weird

[Snadger]

..............................you'll be worrying about worrying when they arrive for a while. Cut down on as many unnecessary worries at the get go...to leave you to worry about the other nothings!

Confucious???