Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Kooka]

I found that with my newest girls Kooka. They slept on a table I have in the coop for a couple weeks before finally venturing onto the roosts with everyone else, they don't stick so close together any more

Waddya know.....I have a small table in there too keep the water, grit and pellet feed up there out of the dust...and they gathered under there first. I built them an A frame about 4m long with a separate roost...they slept there (on the floor) till they began to lay then they just quit sleeing there and stayed out even when that meant cold wind and rain.....that was the last straw as it were, guessed they were trying to tell me something

 

[Anniebee]

You are welcome Annie.
The golden yolk is a well a balanced feed and with a protein level of 15% and calcium at 3.8 % it is most suitable for your hens. There is no mention of amino acids methionine and linoelic , but one would assume it contains these.The calcium level is a little high however for people with mixed flocks. If like many birds, yours were reluctant to consume pellets alone, you could mix with a free range ( scratch ) which usually contain around 14% protein, at a 50/50 ratio.
As stated in the bars stock information, greens and treats should be kept to minimum and if your birds are free ranging , they will be getting their grit and extra protein from bugs and any other creepy crawlies that happen to come their way.

http://shop.stefmar.com.au/barastoc...ng-pellets-20kg-complete-feed-for-laying-hens

Again thank you Fancy ... your advice is always so helpful.

Had a look at the ingredients ratio in the link you provided - had checked that once before, ages ago, but percentages etc. ( anything that is mathematic ) goes straight over my head. !!!

Barastoc however, does have a great reputation.

Fortunately and so far, my 3 chickens are not reluctant to eat ANYTHING. .... which includes their food pellets. If we have heavy rain ( which we have had last couple of months ) I keep them locked up - like poor little caged birds

but in a good sized coop .... and they do NOT like that one bit, but what they do - out of boredom most likely, is eat their pellets more than they would when out in their run or free ranging.

Threw several leaves of cauliflower outers to them today ( for some reason they are a favourite !! ) ... and they ate and threw them around for play. But that is all they get in the way of green treats this week. I will throw some scratch to them on Friday --- and then Sunday.

As for any animal ( bird ) ... it is not good to give them too much - I have to back off now from Miss Rubys' treats as well. She is getting a bit too 'rounded' again for my liking, which can lead to OCD and other joint / arthritic problems in a dog. Same goes for us humans eh ?

Again - many thanks --

Cheers ........AB

 

[Anniebee]

Annie my oldest chicken now a bantam is 8 and a half. She has the same pellets as you feed and she gets whatever scraps are thrown over the fence each day. Some days they get BOSS and some days a handful of corn.. I don't feed it in huge amounts just enough for them to get a bit each. I have never really stressed too much about it.

That is a fantastic age satay ... for your dear bantam. ....

I don't feed BOSS to my chickens - except for what the little they get in the scratch mix. But I am sure there is nothing wrong with doing that, its just that I stay with combined scratch mix, and the BOSS I keep to entice the cockatoos away from frightening heck out of my chooks !! I do keep a bag of that for them at all times. Wild bird seed is expensive, especially when it is eaten by possums !! ... so the wild birds only get a look in, once a month or so ( from what I purchase - other than that they clean up after - and with - my girls ).

My girls quite deliberately avoid whole corn kernels. Don't know why ! .... our wild birds also finish them off quite nicely. !

I really should stop stressing about my 3 chickens ---- can anyone imagine what I might be like with a flock of say, 50 ++ ???

I would NEVER get to go anywhere - family events and things ?? Be too busy watching over my flock ....... LOL.

Glad to know that the Barastoc feed is all that is needed. It has a great reputation.

Cheers - and thank you.

............

 

[Anniebee]

Annie my girls (1 year old) get layer pellets (red label I believe it is) constant supply, most days I throw them a handful of free range scratch when I go in there and what ever household scraps we have, they go out in the back yard to farage most days. With free ranging they take what they need, you don't need to worry about what they eat, as they know what they need, but when you are mixing up your own foods for them they will eat that over the pellets and disrupt the ratios. I would keep your special mix to once a week or even less, and make sure you give it in the afternoon after they've already had a day of foraging and pellets, with scratch seeds make sure they have to work for it, throw it on the ground rather than in a feeder. It doesn't sound like they are unhealthy at all but given they are around middle aged it's best to watch their intake a little more closely

Thank you ChristieB .... great advice.

Figure I am getting one thing right from your comments - that is, I feed them my own mix ( from now on only once a week ) --- in the afternoon. Also throw the scratch mix for them - around 3 pm. They all usually go to bed with substantially full crops --- to be digested overnight. ( that's my theory anyway ). So far, so good.

They certainly love my mix - and go berserk for it - flying up into my body and arms to get at it first. They KNOW what it is ( I feed it to them in dog bowls - so's not to tip over ). Have never thought to feed scratch mix, other than on the ground. ... I try to avoid throwing it near woopsies .... find a nice cleanish area - even amongst the straw on the ground.

Surprised me a little - your comment that my girls are 'middle-aged' ... had never considered that. But it figures - them being birds after all. ... As per my other comments here, I will be very careful of their intake of goodies and foods, in the future.

Many thanks ---

Cheers ..........

 

[Anniebee]

One of my layers was laying massive double yolks I had a week of them. Smallest was 99.3 gram and largest was 105.4 gram !

She has gone back to laying normal but I can't for the life of me work out why ! I did change their scratch from red hen brand to a home mix. I watched her close but she is ok

GOOD GRIEF .... and here I was worried about an egg around 90 gms. ? Ye Gods.

At least from the look of your pix, your hen managed to make them elongated in shape - to reduce the 'push' factor for her.

I will NEVER complain or query again !!

.... LOL.

AB......

 

[IamSamSam]

GOOD GRIEF .... and here I was worried about an egg around 90 gms. ?   Ye Gods.   

At least from the look of your pix, your hen managed to make them elongated in shape - to reduce the 'push' factor for her. 

I will NEVER complain or query again !!      .... LOL. 

AB...... 

LOL oh NEVER Hesitate to ask questions AB.

Answers bring out a wealth of knowledge and opinions !

I actually found a soft shell egg yesterday. I think it came from my light Sussex. It was also not in the box

.

Otherwise all is good.

 

[satay]

Guess what? Another Belgian baby this morning. Number 4. My Christmas hatch is still going

 

[IamSamSam]

Just set polish eggs some buff laced some silver laced. One gold lace frizzle in the silver pen so I am praying for one of those !

It's going to be a long 21 days

 

[IamSamSam]

Guess what? Another Belgian baby this morning. Number 4. My Christmas hatch is still going

And so so cute little bubbas

 

[satay]

LOL oh NEVER Hesitate to ask questions AB.

Answers bring out a wealth of knowledge and opinions !

I actually found a soft shell egg yesterday. I think it came from my light Sussex. It was also not in the box

.

Otherwise all is good.

Agree totally. Asking questions helps everyone on the thread and even people who may have just popped in for a look.