changes in feed for extreme winter hens.

[mosse71]

im in n.Maine and it gets wicked cold here. its been a few years (like 20) since I've kept chickens through the winter. used to just give them their layer feed and call it good. would it be better to give them high protein feed for the extra energy and some oyster shells just for winter months? i would think the extra protien would also help egg production as well as help them keep warm.

 

[mosse71]

im in n.Maine and it gets wicked cold here. its been a few years (like 20) since I've kept chickens through the winter. used to just give them their layer feed and call it good. would it be better to give them high protein feed for the extra energy and some oyster shells just for winter months? i would think the extra protien would also help egg production as well as help them keep warm.

 

[Folly's place]

Offer oyster shell all year, in a separate dish, for any hen who needs it. I feed a 20% protein all-flock feed all year, so no changes necessary for winter.
Mary

 

[ChickenLeg]

I always mix in about 20% cracked corn in the winter to help keep my flock warm. I never strived for much winter production, no extra lighting or anything special, because I only hatched out in spring and summer. But they loved the corn and it helped keep them warm.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

I also toss them some corn, and a handful of cat kibbles in the winter. I wouldn' go up to 20% corn unless your feeding higher protein feeds along with it since corn is high energy but low protein.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

The cat kibble give some natural animal fats which helps keep them healthy since there's no bugs around in the winter. Just in case you wondered.

 

[mosse71]

The cat kibble give some natural animal fats which helps keep them healthy since there's no bugs around in the winter. Just in case you wondered.

i just started this last week. cheaper than mealworms.

 

[cats and chicks]

I give mine a handful of scratch and mix in oatmeal when they are regrowing feathers.
I've also been known to cook and feed warm oatmeal on super cold days, and make sure they have a place to get in out of the wind and where they can snuggle up together if the feel chilled.

 

[cats and chicks]

i just started this last week. cheaper than mealworms.

I grow my own mealworms in the summer. You can separate them out and refrigerate them in batches to feed to your birds throughout the year