Alfalfa hay

[flowergirl60]

Instead of getting a bale of alfalfa hay I ended up with the dehydrated crumbles of hay. TSC didn't have the bales. I drove 30 miles so I bought what they had. Now I don't know how to use it. Should I just spread it out in the run? Does it get moldy when wet? It's very fine. Put in nest boxes? I took some and spread some out and it's kind of dusty. I know they can eat it but they seem kind of scared when I spread it out. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I buy the pellets. They are large, as they are intended for horses. I just put a handful into a bucket, with an inch or two of water, and soak over night. I add to the feed and stir them together. One part alfalfa mush to 4 parts layer mash. The moisture of the hydrated alfalfa makes the dry mash come alive. The hens eat it just fine. Does wonderful things to the yolk color too. Mine won't eat it "straight", however, but mixed? No problems.

 

[GardenState38]

Quote:
I also reconstitute alfalfa pellets. My girls actually do like to eat it on its own, as well as mixed in with other treats/crumbles.
However, they LOVE to scratch through alfalfa hay--so as a treat, I throw a bale into their run. I just throw in the mini bale and let them have at it! It is spread around the run in a matter of minutes!
I've heard there are dangers of impacted crop when feeding hay, but I haven't experienced any problems of that sort, and my girls don't seem to bother with the stalks, but prefer to peck out the bits of green.

Flowergirl, if you only have a few hens (I only have 5), you could purchase mini bales of alfalfa from a pet superstore or pet store--it's in the rabbit/guinea pig aisle. Not the most economical way to go about it probably

If they don't initially seem to like it, it may just take them time to get used to something new. I never give up on anything after the first trial--chickens are inherently suspicious of anything new or different!

I've also spread alfalfa hay in the coop and, in addition to smelling wonderful, it gives them something to scratch through, keeping the bedding well-mixed.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I wonder if it's the grass hays that cause more of an impaction problem, for some chickens? Mine usually want the leaves from alfalfa, which has tougher stems than the softer grass hays.

 

[flowergirl60]

Thanks for all the replies. I gues I'm just going to put a pile in the run and see what happens. I don't think it would cause their crop to be impacted b/c it is really fine. It says on the bag it is easily digested.

 

[kizanne]

Haven't been doing it long but I take the compressed alfalfa cubes and rehydrate them with water and my girls so far love them.

We still have plenty of greens in the yard but as it gets darker we don't have as much time for free range time because I don't get home til 5:30 and by then the EE's are roosted and the others will go out for 20 minutes before retiring.

 

[Renee']

Yes, if they get wet they will mold.

 

[flowergirl60]

Well I won't be putting it in the run this weekend b/c it is going to rain. I'll put some in the coop with my deep litter pine shavings and see what happens. It stays dry in there.