I actually thought I might be feeding them too much, but a visitor the other day said they looked "hungry" as they were clamouring at the fence and noisily clucking at me while they weaved and dodged back and forth as if trying to get out. I interpreted this as them wanting to be let out to range but maybe I'm wrong?
So here's what they get each day (there are three of them):
Morning: I usually chuck some oatmeal out there mixed with warm water - about a cup in total.
Afternoon: they freerange in the yard - we *had* more greenery until recently but it's winter here and has been fairly dry so even the grass is looking pretty brown and I imagine the pickings are pretty slim.
Evening: I put a full scoop (2 cups) of layer mash (which seems to have a lot of black sunflower seeds in it as well as the usual grains, pellets and powdery bits) in a feed dispenser in their coop, as well as a handful of it broadcast over the run for them to scratch at in the morning. Usually they will eat all of it within 24 hours.
Plus they get free reign on my compost heap with all the usual fruit and vege scraps, and occasional treats in the form of cheese cubes or grapes etc. Oh, and also the pickings from the kids "messy mat" which is shaken out into the yard after each meal - that usually has some pasta, crackers, fruit bits etc - whatever the kids have dropped or chucked on the floor. And any leftover rice or pasta we have - not very often as my DP is a bit of a garbage guts!
I have only the three chooks, and they are all laying (although one I suspect has slowed down lately as I'm only getting 2 eggs per day for much of the week) and they all look fat and healthy to me.
So here's what they get each day (there are three of them):
Morning: I usually chuck some oatmeal out there mixed with warm water - about a cup in total.
Afternoon: they freerange in the yard - we *had* more greenery until recently but it's winter here and has been fairly dry so even the grass is looking pretty brown and I imagine the pickings are pretty slim.
Evening: I put a full scoop (2 cups) of layer mash (which seems to have a lot of black sunflower seeds in it as well as the usual grains, pellets and powdery bits) in a feed dispenser in their coop, as well as a handful of it broadcast over the run for them to scratch at in the morning. Usually they will eat all of it within 24 hours.
Plus they get free reign on my compost heap with all the usual fruit and vege scraps, and occasional treats in the form of cheese cubes or grapes etc. Oh, and also the pickings from the kids "messy mat" which is shaken out into the yard after each meal - that usually has some pasta, crackers, fruit bits etc - whatever the kids have dropped or chucked on the floor. And any leftover rice or pasta we have - not very often as my DP is a bit of a garbage guts!
I have only the three chooks, and they are all laying (although one I suspect has slowed down lately as I'm only getting 2 eggs per day for much of the week) and they all look fat and healthy to me.
