Bantam People!! HALLLP- "Gift Chickens"

[theuglychick]

Couple more questions. I'm almost done, I promise!

How often do they lay?

I've had them 2 days and no egg, which is fine if that is normal.

Granted, they could be just at point of lay, as I have no idea how old they are.

Could it also be the lack of protein, picking, coupled with molt or do they just not lay as often as my big layers?

Should I feed them crumble instead of pellets?

They haven't touched the pellets but gobbled down the grower crumble. There again, could it be the protein they're trying to get from the growers crumble?

They're actually eating more grass than anything.

Thanks for y'alls patience and advice. I really want to get them healthy.

 

[SOHC-FTW]

Sounds like they came from an over run place and are lacking alot. If they enjoy crumbels then give them that birds love greens so pluck some sod and give em some eggs.

I would probably worm them here soon and any bird i get i always treat with Corid for coccidiosis its just something i do.

 

[theuglychick]

I think you're right about coming from overrun facility.

I deworm all mine twice a year with valbazen. I planned on deworming today but have been hit with the mother of all stomach bugs. I'll do it this weekend. I'll have to find the dosage for these little guys.

I also have corid and will start them on it asap! Great thinking!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Couple more questions. I'm almost done, I promise!

How often do they lay?

I've had them 2 days and no egg, which is fine if that is normal.

Granted, they could be just at point of lay, as I have no idea how old they are.

Could it also be the lack of protein, picking, coupled with molt or do they just not lay as often as my big layers?

Should I feed them crumble instead of pellets?

They haven't touched the pellets but gobbled down the grower crumble. There again, could it be the protein they're trying to get from the growers crumble?

They're actually eating more grass than anything.

Thanks for y'alls patience and advice. I really want to get them healthy.

I don't feed any of my chickens layer feed, because it can cause kidney problems in non-laying birds if fed for long-term. If I were you, I would continue to feed them grower (or flock raiser or all flock).

 

[theuglychick]

My big birds free range most of the time, and lock up at night.

They are provided a little bit of everything, from scratch, crack corn, flock-raiser, layer, grower, and oyster shell. Even with all of that, it lasts me forever because they eat mostly grass, seeds, and bugs while foraging.

Game bird feed is pretty much the only thing I don't have.

I did not know that about layer feed, do you think I'm providing enough with all the other stuff to just discontinue layer all together?

I don't feed any of my chickens layer feed, because it can cause kidney problems in non-laying birds if fed for long-term. If I were you, I would continue to feed them grower (or flock raiser or all flock).

 

[WVduckchick]

None of my bantams like pellets. Too big for them to crush up. I stick with crumbles, even though they make a huge mess with it.

 

[enoryz]

So how early is too early for layer pellets? I have 2 hens that will start laying before the rest of my chickens and the bantams my neighbor gave to me also will start around these 2 hens. The rest will lay later. I read on this thread that someone doesn't even give layer feed. Can I just continue with the grower feed, scratch, and put out oyster shell for calcium?

 

[Abriana]

You should not provide layer pellets before they are laying. The calcium can damage their kidneys. When they begin to lay, feed layer and put out additional calcium for them.

 

[Kusanar]

So how early is too early for layer pellets? I have 2 hens that will start laying before the rest of my chickens and the bantams my neighbor gave to me also will start around these 2 hens. The rest will lay later. I read on this thread that someone doesn't even give layer feed. Can I just continue with the grower feed, scratch, and put out oyster shell for calcium?

The short answer is yes, you can do the grower feed or a flock raiser feed with the oyster shell on the side. The hens will eat what they need and the ones that don't need it won't have to eat it.

 

[WVduckchick]

If it were totally up to me, I'd always buy Flock Raiser. But sometimes when money is tight, i buy layer feed, which is always cheaper (darn near half the cost here). The boys eat it too. I'm not condoning it, and i have no proof that it doesn't cause them harm, and I've "read" everyone say it damages the kidneys, but i guarantee there are old codgers out there feeding chickens much worse. Just sayin....