Best feed for old non egg laying chickens?

[ChickenLover1008848]

Hello I've got two older chickens, one was recently diagnosed with a higher fat content so they need a diet change, i'm looking for some all flock feed crumble brand that's easy on there organs and isn't to fatty, that's also healthy/non gmo possibly. If anyone has recommendations or things I should look for in smaller brands at my local feed stores. I was thinking Purina but some people are saying it's bad so I'm unsure. Also thinking about Mana Pro if anyone has suggestions for feed!

 

[chickengr]

what have you been feeding them? do they forage? they need grass/veggies/fruits, etc. I cannot recommend you any feed as I live in greece but they should not eat commercial feed only.

 

[FrostRanger]

The whole Purina thing was just a rumor likely based a misunderstanding of how chickens work (people not realizing that while pullets usually lay through their first winter, hens usually take a break during fall and winter due to molting and shorter days and them switching foods coincides when they would have started back again anyways near spring) so don't worry about that. As long as it's nutritionally sound, brand doesn't matter. If weight is a concern, make sure to cut out all treats

 

[ChickenLover1008848]

what have you been feeding them? do they forage? they need grass/veggies/fruits, etc. I cannot recommend you any feed as I live in greece but they should not eat commercial feed only.

They get plenty of veggies/fruits some foraging but not free ranging because of predators however there place is big for two hens. Lots of love and occasional stratch/mealworms too. Looking for a new commercial feed that's healthier for them and helps lower there fat content. (When they were younger they had very fatty organic feed and lots of scratch which most likely built up fattyness overtime, the feed and scratch was swapped but then they couldn't digest it so I switched again to southern egg layer crumble which was too much for there systems since there old non egg laying with chronic issues).

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I recommend an all-flock or grower formula, it won't have the calcium layer feeds have in them. Too much calcium is not good for non-layers, it can adversely affect their organs especially their kidneys. Treats should be kept to a minimum. Foraging is good but keep table scraps, etc. to no more than a Tbsp or so per day per hen.

 

[chickengr]

maybe you overfeed them? I think some sort of all flock feed would work for them + greens, no scratch.

 

[Debbie292d]

We raise and breed silkies and also have three ducks and everybody gets Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles. We get it from Chewy as it's not sold in stores around here. I've noted they have an organic version, but I don't buy it as farmers' crops surround us, so it's pointless.

That is higher protein, lower calcium, so we supplement the laying hens with oyster shell in separate dishes.

Mealworms are very high fat, so if you want to cut the fat in their diet, maybe switch to less of those. Scrambled eggs is a good healthy treat if you're looking for something else to give them.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

They get plenty of veggies/fruits some foraging but not free ranging because of predators however there place is big for two hens. Lots of love and occasional stratch/mealworms too. Looking for a new commercial feed that's healthier for them and helps lower there fat content. (When they were younger they had very fatty organic feed and lots of scratch which most likely built up fattyness overtime, the feed and scratch was swapped but then they couldn't digest it so I switched again to southern egg layer crumble which was too much for there systems since there old non egg laying with chronic issues).

If they’re not on layer feed now, I’d just cut back portions. I don’t think there’s a specific weight-loss feed.

Similarly, back off on the portions of veg/ fruit/ etc. Skip the scratch entirely.

Use the 15-minute rule: offer food for 15 minutes and then take up whatever hasn’t been eaten yet. You’ll probably get a great deal of Drama from them about this, but they’ll learn.

Since they can’t be out foraging a lot, consider adding some interest in their run. Branches of differing heights, upturned buckets to hop on and off of, piles of dried leaves to scratch through - anything that might get them moving a bit more.

 

[ChickenLover1008848]

The whole Purina thing was just a rumor likely based a misunderstanding of how chickens work (people not realizing that while pullets usually lay through their first winter, hens usually take a break during fall and winter due to molting and shorter days and them switching foods coincides when they would have started back again anyways near spring) so don't worry about that. As long as it's nutritionally sound, brand doesn't matter. If weight is a concern, make sure to cut out all treats

Thank you! Definitely have been reducing scratch amount, how many veggies and fruits should they have? They get very small amounts of fruit (a few berries) one or twice week and veggies three or four times in small amounts (like one whole cucumber 2 times a month and small bites of brussel, lettuce or other veggies since there picky and don't eat too much of one thing) tho recently more veggies until we find them a better feed. Also how much scratch amount is good per week? I used to give them one handful a day now I give them just a little sprinkle here and there.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you! Definitely have been reducing scratch amount, how many veggies and fruits should they have? They get very small amounts of fruit (a few berries) one or twice week and veggies three or four times in small amounts (like one whole cucumber 2 times a month and small bites of brussel, lettuce or other veggies since there picky and don't eat too much of one thing) tho recently more veggies until we find them a better feed. Also how much scratch amount is good per week? I used to give them one handful a day now I give them just a little sprinkle here and there.

Some "experts" will say treats shouldn't be more than 15% of their diet. In our case with silkies, that's too many vitamins and nutrients they aren't getting if that was daily, so we'll do scratch or scrambled eggs every other day. Our "scratch" is actually a layer feed, Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve. That's a treat to them.