Hi...Since we're in the midst of winter here, the hens seem to have changed their minds about what tastes good.
No more fruit and veggies for them, they seem manic about birdseed, now.
I think that I give my hens a good diet, but...I am not sure if I am giving them enough food, because it's very cold out, and because they seem to always be STARVING, or if it's the right things?
So here is what I give them, like I said I think it's pretty healthy, but please let me know the amounts and such, in case I'm underfeeding? They seem skinny, not plump like I think they should be esp. in winter. I have four young adult hens, still laying almost daily even tho it's midwinter.
Daily, in the a.m.:
They seem to be going for the dried mealworms, now. They also seem to be famished at all times...and I can refill that grain several times a day, they will eat it all. Should I just let them have as much as they want, or is there a limit? I generally feed them in the morning everything listed above, and then check later in the day a couple times to make sure their water is OK, and usually I have to give them more grains. They go wild when they see me coming and beg like mad. These are my first chickens, I don't want to be under or overfeeding or giving them the wrong balance. So any suggestions to make sure I am giving them the right amounts and the right things would be great! Thanks, all...
No more fruit and veggies for them, they seem manic about birdseed, now.
I think that I give my hens a good diet, but...I am not sure if I am giving them enough food, because it's very cold out, and because they seem to always be STARVING, or if it's the right things?
So here is what I give them, like I said I think it's pretty healthy, but please let me know the amounts and such, in case I'm underfeeding? They seem skinny, not plump like I think they should be esp. in winter. I have four young adult hens, still laying almost daily even tho it's midwinter.
Daily, in the a.m.:
- Layer crumbles. Always available in a automatic dispensing feeder, I just keep it full.
- water (duh)
- A "scratch" grain which in my case is "homemade" consisting of: wild bird food blended with dried mealworms, cracked corn, grass seed, and poultry grit. 2 cups a day at least.
- A small amount (1/2 cup) of hamburger/brown rice/veggie mix that I make for my dogs. They used to act like they would kill each other getting at this treat but now, not so much.
- Corn on the cob (very lucky a local grocer still stocks this so late in the season!) One ear.
- dried alfalfa or timothy hay, from the pet store. A handful or two tossed on the ground.
- beyond that, it varies. I might scramble them an egg, or chop up some veggies or other meat that is available. Anything I think they might like. they love chicken legs for instance. I make them sprouts and they have those for a week at a time about every 3 weeks. I make them from a cup or so of my pigeon grain.
They seem to be going for the dried mealworms, now. They also seem to be famished at all times...and I can refill that grain several times a day, they will eat it all. Should I just let them have as much as they want, or is there a limit? I generally feed them in the morning everything listed above, and then check later in the day a couple times to make sure their water is OK, and usually I have to give them more grains. They go wild when they see me coming and beg like mad. These are my first chickens, I don't want to be under or overfeeding or giving them the wrong balance. So any suggestions to make sure I am giving them the right amounts and the right things would be great! Thanks, all...
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