feeding time ???

[feefeelalabelle]

hi all, we have had our chickens for about a week now and was given a small supply of food from the place we got them from. we have just ordered all of our feed online but im just woundering how much do you guys give your chooks? i havnt got any weighing scales so how many handfulls do you think would be sufficient for 2 hens and a cock? ive just been letting them rule the way at the mo but i dont think they are eating alot at all, there is always food left in the small bowl..... i try to give them a few treats eg veg and mealworm but they arnt fussed at all, should i feed them little and often


xxxxx

[MaureenHall]

Get one of the feeders if you can, and fill it up with pellets. Let the chooks regulate themselves how much they eat and only give any treats late on in the day so that they've already had all the nutrients they need from the pellets. Don't leave the feeder out overnight as that can attract vermin. If you haven't got or can't get a feeder, use a large bowl and try to place it so that the food stays dry. Make sure they've always got access to fresh water too. Good luck with your chooks and keep us posted

[Suechooks]

I agree with what Maureen has said.
They will eat less in the hot weather anyway. Just make sure they have plenty of fresh water and let them eat as much balanced food as they want.

[feefeelalabelle]

thanks for the advice girls, im pretty good with all animals but ive never been around chickens before and i just want to make sure im doing it right, i have a feeder and water fountain comming this week so they should be ok. I put them 2 handfulls of corn in and 2 hanfulls of layers in yesterday at about 5 ive just been in and let them out and it looks like they have only ate a bit of corn (i left it in the cage all night) but then when i put i outside on the floor they went straight to it???? dont understand it really why didnt they just eat it in their cage if they were hungry? (i say cage but its a big converted dog kennel, dont think im cruel lol) xx

[MaureenHall]

Try not to give them the corn till later on in the day, class that as a treat otherwise they'll just gorge themselves on it and get fat! And fat hens don't lay eggs

[timmyalex]

I'm presuming here your chooks are POL (20+ weeks old). The chooks will eat first thing and need the special mix of nutrients built into the layers pellets/mash to supply good eggs. Save the corn for treats in the afternoon. I doubt very much if your chooks will eat food left in the coop overnight and could well attract rats etc. Anyway, it seems you are enjoying your girls so i wish you many happy hours with them. Getting chickens was the best move i ever made in the garden and i would not be without my girls. Enjoy.

[bluemoon]

I wouldn't mix the corn with the feed either, they'll just pick it out and leave the pellets which are far more nutritious. A handful of corn to a chicken is like a box of chocolates to us - they'll do anything for it - but we wouldn't eat a box every day if we wanted to stay healthy. I just throw mine a small amount just before bed and they have to scratch for it, then they seem to go to bed immediately afterwards, it's a good way to ensure they have a full crop at bedtime and in winter when the nights are longer I will probably give them a little more. It's fattening though and contains few nutrients.

[Snadger]

An allotment neighbour who buys my eggs regulaily has the same amount of hens as me, but is getting no eggs.
He can't seem to grasp the the idea that you only get out what you put in.
An egg is a huge lump of protein to be deposited each day. Don't try and ration your chooks...........let them eat layers pellets at will. If feeding corn as well they will need grit as well so that there crops can grind the corn.

[bluemoon]

Just realized where you are, Feefee. There's a large feed merchant at Kilnhurst. Got to be cheaper than on-line and you could look at the feeds available and decide what you wanted. As with most places locally the business is 90% horses, but he will order stuff specially if you need it. Alternatively there is Argo at Penistone, a huge place who will have just about anything and everything you need in stock including organic feeds, wormers, vitamin supplements, grit, oyster-shell, bedding materials, red-mite powders and sprays etc, etc. A bit more out of your way, I admit, but a special trip 4 - 6 weekly could save you a fortune in postage costs.

[feefeelalabelle]

thanks for that guys, very helpfull..........their on rations with the corn now lol xx
bluemoon, kilnhurst is just down the road from us, do you know the name of it by anychance, would like to have a nosey
xxx

[bluemoon]

Sorry, Can't remember the name. I used it until I discovered Argo at Penistone, which is about the same distance from us, but in the opposite direction, though it is much nearer my mum so I have reason to be 'just passing' that one. The one in Kilnhurst is beside the narrow stone bridge in the middle of the town, there is a small industrial estate and it is the first unit there. As I said, it's mostly horsey stuff and dog food, but he does keep a small supply of chicken feed and will order things if you need them.

[Bramble-Poultry]

i have switched my birds over to Farmgate feeds, hich you can get from most dealers or they will deliver / allow collection or deliver bulk depending on how much you need.

I would never switch back now as the quality of the eggs and their shells is excellant and the overall health of the birds has improved. The pellets are also slightly smaller which makes them easy for some of my bantams too.

As an illustration, i used to buy Dodson and Horrells Turkey Breeder pellets at £12.99 per sack, Farmgate Turkey Breeder is only £9.99. when you think that the turkeys get through a sack in 3 weeks, wont take long to recoup the savings.

Dont know how much food you lot get through but i go through around 40kg layers, 15kg chick crumb, 10kg turkey crumb, 20kg poultry grower, 20 kg turkey grower every week so it pays to take a drive up to the Farmgate Mill every couple of weeks with the trailer and stock up!!

if you have only a couple of chooks, it might be worth biting the bullet and buying a small sack offline or even from pets at home as the cost of your fuel to get to a feed merchant will outweigh the savings made at their till.