Can You Use Hay With Mold In It For Bedding ? Need Answers Quick!

[ScoobyRoo]

Since you already know NOT to get the moldy hay, I will still give you my opinion on hay. Even if it wasnt moldy it is not a good bedding material. Hay is a dried flat grass. It will get matted and clump up. It will create mold in my opinion because air cannot flow through it. Same results with shredded newspaper

Straw on the other hand is my choice as it is a hollow grass reed and more air can circulate through-out. And as mentioned by the other poster, chickens love it!

I do put shavings down as a base first then straw on top.

Good luck with your chickens!

 

[partsRheavy]

I realize it's just 3 birds.

Do NOT use moldy hay for them. They also need a complete feed and housing where they can survive the winter. Can't you just keep a feed sack indoors and take layer pellet out to them as needed??

Unless you're in a city with a lot of legal restrictions if you want enough eggs for you and your family/friends you need more hens than 3. Also 6 or 7 hens will go through a feed bag better so it won't get stale.

Either you're into chickens and wiling to feed and house them clean (NO moldy hay - GROSS!!) or maybe it's not quite the thing for you and maybe you can give them away to someone with a coop and who has feed.

 

[yankeedoodle300]

i won't use Hay. I Will Use Straw... I Thought Hay and straw were the same, thanks for the warning!

what's your Opinion On Using Corn AND Pellets? My Mom won't Get Pellets Until more than 1 Person say's So, Not just FLChickens.

He said " They need the layer feed year round to keep them healthy. Feeding only corn is like you eatting nothing but fast food and candy. It will make them fat and unhealthy."

I Believe Him, But My Mom needs More people to say that Before we Get Pellets, Not just Corn.

She says " We don't want them To Want to lay eggs In the Winter "

My mom can some times have Bad Logic, As you can see.

Again, what's your Opinion On Using Corn AND Pellets? My Mom won't Get Pellets Until more than 1 Person say's So, Not just FLChickens.

I Need answers soon. I Don't Want My Girlz To be " Fat and Unhealthy " .

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Sorry, but I doubt you will get an answer soon. Here is why,

Everyone has their own opinion and you are going to hear a lot of different ones. You are just going to have to do a little research on what kind of chickens, layers, broody's etc. that you have (I have a mixed flock, so I buy flock raiser and my layers do well with it). Your weather conditions, budgets and among other things has a factor in what you buy.
Some chickens prefer crumbles over pellets. Some people feed pellets because of less waste.

See where I'm going here?

It will be a trial and error for you and what your chickens will eat.

Again, good luck!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We feed flock raiser, Purena omega layer feed, BOSS, rolled oats, and some wheat. It is mixed and fed daily to all birds. We also feed Mazuri waterfowl since we have geese and ducks.

Chickens do tend back off their laying greatly in winter because of the lack of daylight, but don't think that just because you don't want them to lay eggs at all that they won't. Hens can, will, and do lay eggs during the winter as well. So this is one reason to not make a drastic change in food.

I would suggest googling chicken nutrition to help educate yourself on their needs. Then you can figure out what works best for you and your chickens.

 

[Pony Trotsky]

Well, if you need somebody to agree with FLChicken, I'll chime in. (I've only had chickens for a few months, but I am a huge nerd, and I've been researching this stuff for a long time.)

I think most people agree that corn by itself is not very healthy. Real layer feed is much better, and it doesn't have to be very expensive. My feed store sells layer crumbles by the pound (I think it costs about 40 cents) so people with small flocks don't have to buy 50 pounds at a time. You could check your feed store to see if they do anything similar. You can also buy feed in 25 pound bags, which might work for you, too. Later, when you've read up on the subject, you might even develop a homemade feed that contains all the nutrients your birds need. And you can always feed seeds and greens and (healthy) people scraps for treats.

You could also look in this very forum for super-cheap or completely free coop plans. There are some terribly clever people here, and some of the things they've built are very impressive. I bet you could build a fine coop for three hens for absolutely no money at all.

I don't think you have to be a millionaire to keep chickens, but having the proper info is key with any animal. I've learned a lot at BYC, and I'm sure you will, too. I think it's great that you care so much about your birds. Good luck!

 

[yankeedoodle300]

Thank's For Agreeing! Now I can get Pellets. My Hens Prefer Crumbles, I Just said Pellets Because saying crumbles Might confuse SOME People... I KNOW the Stuff about Nutrition, I Just want my MOM to know that!

 

[yankeedoodle300]

and my Feed Store store is Tractor supply............. YAY!

My Mom says " Yes " to getting Crumbles for them to Eat, NOT Just Cracked Corn! She Says " Yes " To The straw, Too!!!!!!!!!

Yippee! My Hens Will be Happy, Healthy and Hardy!

I LOVE my mom!

 

[Pony Trotsky]

Hey, hurray for your Mom! That's good to hear.

Do you think you could convince mine that housekeeping is highly over-rated?

 

[yankeedoodle300]

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