Chick starter as mush for adults as winter treat??

[Jenilynchickmom]

Hi! It’s nearing cold winter in Michigan, can I feed my gals a mush of chick starter with hot water as a treat a couple times a week?

I also read warm oatmeal?


Any other tips would be appreciated

 

[azygous]

What do you normally feed? You do realize chick starter is barely distinguishable from an all flock feed except for a slightly lower protein content?

Feeding hot mash on winter mornings is your choice, but any calories, warmed or not, will fuel their inner "furnaces".

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

What do you normally feed? You do realize chick starter is barely distinguishable from an all flock feed except for a slightly lower protein content?

I normally feed a 16% layer feed. I do realize the chick starter is the same except the higher protein which is why I’m asking, because of the higher protein.

While I understand for some of you this might be a stupid question I’m a first timer and just trying to do my best for the gals.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Chick starter makes a great medium/high protein snack and you can feed as much of it as you want in any form that you want. Just make sure you have some extra oyster shell somewhere for the chickens.
Oatmeal is a medium/low protein snack. At only 8-12% protein depending on its form, it's fine as a treat, but only as a treat, unless you're balancing it out with other foods.

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

Chick starter makes a great medium/high protein snack and you can feed as much of it as you want in any form that you want. Just make sure you have some extra oyster shell somewhere for the chickens.
Oatmeal is a medium/low protein snack. At only 8-12% protein depending on its form, it's fine as a treat, but only as a treat, unless you're balancing it out with other foods.

thank you so much! Is there a better higher protein snack should be providing in the winter? I’m open to getting them anything that might help keep warm. I have wrapped the run with tarps to cut down on drafts and added some roosts to the run so they can get off the cold ground as well.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

thank you so much! Is there a better higher protein snack should be providing in the winter? I’m open to getting them anything that might help keep warm. I have wrapped the run with tarps to cut down on drafts and added some roosts to the run so they can get off the cold ground as well.

Not really, chickens are surprisingly hardy and like others have said - food is food, even in the winter. You're a little further north than I am, but around here my chickens just kinda roll with it. The trick is keeping the coop dry dry dry. Much harder in our snowy areas. I don't worry until it drops below -5*F, at which point I plan for it by putting more straw in the coop and making sure they get a LOT of water outside. When it snows deep I shovel the snow away some and throw down hay or straw or something to give them something to walk on that isn't snow.

I like hot mash in the winter because chickens can become dehydrated because of freezing waterers and the extra water content is nice, but I also dislike it because it can freeze. So feed it in limited amounts. Otherwise, treats are more for people than chickens. Chickens just need a balanced diet. Chickens wear down feather coats everywhere they go and have very little in their legs to get cold. After the first couple weeks, my chickens usually adjust and come out of the coop every day to hang out with no extra shelter.

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

Not really, chickens are surprisingly hardy and like others have said - food is food, even in the winter. You're a little further north than I am, but around here my chickens just kinda roll with it. The trick is keeping the coop dry dry dry. Much harder in our snowy areas. I don't worry until it drops below -5*F, at which point I plan for it by putting more straw in the coop and making sure they get a LOT of water outside. When it snows deep I shovel the snow away some and throw down hay or straw or something to give them something to walk on that isn't snow.

I like hot mash in the winter because chickens can become dehydrated because of freezing waterers and the extra water content is nice, but I also dislike it because it can freeze. So feed it in limited amounts. Otherwise, treats are more for people than chickens. Chickens just need a balanced diet. Chickens wear down feather coats everywhere they go and have very little in their legs to get cold. After the first couple weeks, my chickens usually adjust and come out of the coop every day to hang out with no extra shelter.

View attachment 2398909

thank you so much! I really appreciate it!! I have a covered run so they won’t have snow in the run to deal with and our coop is actually inside our garage (I am crazy, I know lol) so I at least know that will be there for if they want to go inside. Michigan can get cold but hopefully we don’t get artic freezes this year

I need to take updated photos, these are older (prior to nest boxes inside and added run activities) but you get the idea

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Your chickens will be totally fine all winter. Just keep them fed and hydrated. Make sure you keep the coop and run well ventilated. Cold is better than wet.

 

[GC-Raptor]

You could feed a Non-medicated Starter Grower as a warm treat.
I feed my hens and pullets a Non-medicated Starter Grower year round as a dry feed and offer a wet mash made from it with cold water during summer to keep them in lay.
I offer Oyster Shells separately.

I never feed oatmeal. GC

 

[RainbowHen]

Sure! Makes a great snack