Feed advice

[country chic]

My 3 girls dont seem to be eating much of the organic pellet in their feed container and I am a bit concerned they are not eating enough in this cold weather and think it best if they would eat more for their body weight .

They get a tea cup of wild bird seed in the morning and a plate of whatever comes out of the kitchen in the day ( usually something green and either pasta, rice or mashed potatoes ) which they gobble up as if they are starving.

Is it possible they are not eating the pellet and holding off for something better ?
One of the girls gives me an egg every 3-4 days the other are not laying yet so they are not losing that body weight, could this be why they are not eating so much ?

[OverWyreGrower]

It's possible they are filling up on the 'good stuff', rather than eating their pellets...

The pellets contain the right amount of stuff to ensure they lay, and get the right nutrients etc.

I would stop giving them the bird seed in the morning, and instead, give them their 'treats' after lunchtime, so that they fill up on the layers pellets first. That way, you know they are getting the right nutrients etc. and will be in fighting fit condition.

[Suechooks]

Cut out the bird seed and the carbs! The layers pellets are formulated for poultry, wild bird seed just doesn't have the right balance for them and also a tea cup full is a lot for 3 hens and the carbs have no nutritional value for hens. My 26 birds get about that amount of mixed corn at the end of the day just before they go to roost.
Seed and corn and pasta etc are like chocolate to us!

[RichmondHens]

I agree with Sue and OWG. Hold off the treats and feed just layers pellets till close to roosting time. Then you can give a small amount of corn, bread, seed etc. A teacup full is quite a lot for three hens, as Sue says. Stick to just what you can hold in a closed fist.

[Flummery]

In the very cold weather mine love layers pellets mixed with hot water and a few raisins. They pick out the raisins of course, but then clean up the bowl. I know they've had the good stuff then, but they think they've had a treat!

[country chic]

Yes I see now I have been doing this all wrong, today they were only given pellets until just before dark then a handful of seeds and kitchens greens on a plate were offered which they of course gobbled up greedily. I may try the hot pellet mash tomorrow.

Thanks for the advice folks.

[Suechooks]

In the very cold weather mine love layers pellets mixed with hot water and a few raisins. They pick out the raisins of course, but then clean up the bowl. I know they've had the good stuff then, but they think they've had a treat!

I do the same to get them back in the run before I leave the allotment. I also add some Poultry Spice as several of my Warrens are in full moult so trying to get them to feather up.

[Flummery]

I do the same to get them back in the run before I leave the allotment. I also add some Poultry Spice as several of my Warrens are in full moult so trying to get them to feather up.

Oh aye, poultry spice and a drop or two of cod liver oil once a week. I also add some crushed baked egg shell most days. It stirs in well and adds a bit of extra calcium.

[country chic]

I have read Marmite is also good for them too and usually give them a bit on toast once a week.