Best feed for my hens to encourage laying

[Jules6hens]

This is such great information. thank you soooo much! I have a small coop and the roost for them at night is up the ladder, and isn't large enough to create this environment...but one day! I'll watch those videos. I clean the shavings each day from the roost and am keeping in bags, thinking I could use them in my compost...but will research more now, as from what you are saying, cannot have DE in compost...or in this way... much appreciate your help. J

can you please tell me, as I saw your photo, how do you attach photos? When I click on the 'paperclip' to attach it says I don't have permission to attach photos...and when I create a new thread there is no 'paperclip'. bit lost on this one!

 

[Jules6hens]

Hi again, just went to that thread. very good stuff. I will refer back to this when I have a larger coop one day as really like that idea and can see why you wouldn't use DE for deep litter.
I've been using DE on bottom of tray before putting shavings on top, as I clean it out every day...only take couple of minutes... but read in one of those posts, that charcoal works really well on mites and lice? have you found that? as that sounds like a more natural way to keep mice and lice at bay? cheers J

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Much good advice so far. The main thing is to just relax. Don't overthink it. Chicken feed is a complete ration. They need no supplements. Unless one is a poultry nutritionist, it isn't a good idea to add other things. The feed mills have incorporated all the nutritents chickens are known to need at the proper ratios.

Had my 6 rescue chickens for just 2 weeks now. I researched types of feed before getting them and set up an area to make my own feed for them. Now reading other posts not sure if I've done the right thing as not sure how to know if I'm keeping the minimum 18% protein that has been suggested for egg laying feed. My recipe is - 50lb layer feed, large canister oats, 2cups cracked corn, 4cups shelled sunflower seeds, 1cup Brewers yeast and garlic powder, 1cup DE, 1cup sea kelp and some mixed herbs. Was supposed to include 1/4 bag omega ultra egg but can't get that in Australia, so still looking for the ground flaxseed to replace it. Does anyone know the feed side of things and can help me? Is this good mix of protein or should I just go back to prepackaged hen mix for my girls? (I like making up there feed too, instead of tipping straight out of a bag). Ps. I put probiotic powder into their drinking water too, just a gram per litre...
Appreciate any ideas on this please. Why? The first two days they laid 5 eggs between them which is average of an egg every second day for each hen, which I'm happy with...but over last 12 days only getting average 1 or 2 eggs a day at most. It could be just settling in, but wanted advice now in case I'm doing something wrong.

When chickens are moved, they have already ovulated in the day before. Those eggs will be laid. Then the stress of the move will stop ovulation until they feel safe again.
That's quite normal for any animal.

Hi,
I researched best foods for hens and this one came up....as a natural parasitic and insecticide. I have two types of DE. one is food grade, to add into their feed. The other one is for their nest...just a sprinkle in the nesting box and roost area. Do you have any other info on DE....as happy to get all information I can.
Cheers
J

Much of what one reads on the internet isn't necessarily correct.
DE doesn't help in the feed.
If one wants to prevent worms, go with an herbal wormer. If one has a worm infestation, go with a real chemical wormer.

 

[Urban Flock]

DE works fairly well in a dry environment but once it gets wet it looses it effectiveness until it dries out again.
Look more into the horticulture world, they will flat out state the DE us useless when it is wet. (this includes good organic gardening sites)

The selling pitch that you here a lot is that DE has "tiny microscopic edges that scratch away at the waxy exoskeleton of hard bodied insects. This causes them, in time, to loose all the moisture contained in their body and they simply dehydrate and die."

Well DE is no longer "sharp" when it is wet and leaves the chickens gizzard, and it is going to be real hard to "dehydrate" any parasite that is living with in a moist area like a chicken with out first dehydrating the host in this case the chicken.

Not only is DE useless when it is wet. When it is dry it is a very serious lung irritant. SO......when it is in the coop or the nesting boxes the chickens will scratch the DE becomes air born and it is then breathed in by the chickens. Pick up any small box of the stuff in a local garden center and both of these disclaimers are clearly noted on the label.

 

[Jules6hens]

Hi,
thanks for your feedback. I posted earlier about charcoal as someone mentioned this as effective against lice and mites? Any opinions on this...or any other natural product to use?
cheers
J

 

[Percheron chick]

You are referring to a dust bath. Wood ash from a fire place is a favorite. Anything that is dry and fine that they can work into their feathers will work.

 

[RJSorensen]

Saw that the thread had picked up a side branch regarding dust baths, I just so happen to have a photograph of the other day that might be of interest to you. I think if you enlarge the picture you can see the 'bath' on her back in the feathers and just everywhere. At times they will dig down into it and only their neck and head can be seen. For reasons know only to birds, they like this a great deal, in fact I believe they prefer it to sunning with a leg and wing extended into the sun. A silly thing to me. As for the secret recipe to the concoction it is part dirt, part potting soil (with out the plant food in it) some ash from our fire pit and a sprinkling of DE. My birds both large and small, seem to enjoy it very much, especially in the winter when the ground is either frozen or wet. It is placed up under the eve and stays dry for their bathing pleasure.



Best to you and your birds,

RJ