I've had chickens since Nov 2011,I'm new to chickens,but fairly competent in other animal care,medical issues, etc as I've often had the misfortune of being my own animal EMT by default here in rural Coastal Maine, treating my own dogs in emergencies, and horses(everything from choke to ng tubes to?)as we r short of Lg Animal vets here. The case of my,"Picky Chickys",has me stumped,tho... I have 5 free range yr old Buff Orp,4 hen and 1 Rooster,-soon to be 21 as I bought 14 chix. I cannot understand WHY they don't seem to like commercial feed,EXCEPT that I bought them from a breeder who
raised them on table scraps & free ranged them?They eat my horse feed long before they eat the commercial "Layer Pellets",they actually go in my horse paddock to pick up dropped sweet feed grain,then eventually will go over a few hrs later and eat some of their pellets,leaving a lot behind for vermin-not good!They LOVE black oil sunflower seeds,and like to rummage in my compost pile(all vegetable).
Are chickens creatures of habit,if raised on table scraps will prefer that?They cant have my horse feed,it has molassas in it which I think can cause loose stool... what other prepared feed is out there & will they eat?These r laying hens,and one Buff Orp Rooster. Im in Maine,a wet mash will freeze here in winter,spring,and I dontg have enough table scraps for them as Im eatin out a lot.Any thoughts oncost effective feed anyone? I tried cracked corn,they like it better than pellets,but needs supplementing with what???
These are PICKY CHICKYs! OR perhaps Im not a chicken saavy Chickie yet?? Thanks!Sarah
Edited by Sarahndipity723 - 4/10/12 at 11:09pm
