Chick feed for hens??

[Chicken run123]

So we got three chicks and we were also going to get some ducklings but we didn’t get the ducks. We are now going to have extra chick feed. How and should we give our hens the chick feed?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chick feed is fine for hens, just supplement oyster shell on the side to provide calcium for laying.

 

[Chicken run123]

And what if you are too cheap to buy Oyster

 

[rosemarythyme]

And what if you are too cheap to buy Oyster

May I ask why? It's like $5 a bag, not expensive at all.

You could also crush up eggshells and feed them back to the hens, but they're not as effective as oyster shell.

 

[NatJ]

And what if you are too cheap to buy Oyster

Maybe save the shells from every egg you eat, from now until the chickens start laying, and put that out for them.

Each laying hen needs to eat the shells from several eggs each day in order to get enough calcium to lay one egg. (Because their bodies can't recover all the calcium from the shells they eat.)

When hens lay eggs, chick starter is just fine EXCEPT that they need a lot more calcium than it has. Oyster shell is a cheap, readily available source of calcium, which is why it is commonly used.

 

[kiwi-chick]

if you don't give them the oyster shell - you'll get a LOT LESS eggs

 

[MinniesMomma]

May I ask why? It's like $5 a bag, not expensive at all.

You could also crush up eggshells and feed them back to the hens, but they're not as effective as oyster shell.

I just bought a 50 pound bag for about $11 at Tractor Supply. It's a really inexpensive way to make sure your hens are getting enough calcium.