Chicken Feed Questions!

[commanderforts]

we raise chickens on grain not chicken food. they also eat alot of grass

 

[chickenhound]

Ours eat a lot of grass also. What types of grain do you feed them since they don't eat normal chicken feed?

 

[chickenhound]

And I forgot to ask, How many birds do you have and are they meat birds, layers or dual purpose?

 

[chickenlover09]

Okay, the chicks are eating the chick starter mash, but I only have enough left to last until about Wednsday. I already bought the bag of all purpose feed (without knowing better), and I don't think I can feed them that yet. I'm not able to go the feed store for awhile. Do any of you have any homeade recipes for what I can feed 2 month old and 1 month old chicks? Can I feed them a mix of oats, eggs? Please help!

 

[nikki_r5]

I am wondering as to when is it ok to feed 7wk old chicks "scratch" ?

The hen is still with them; I have given them slices of cucumber or melon rind as well as tomatoes.

I got 2 eggs from the hen yesterday.

This Mama & 3 chicks (2- 1day old, 1- 2day old chick) were a "Gift from a friend !"
7 weeks ago today . . . .


They are all just on Chick Feed.

 

[mightymax]

Scratch should be used sparingly with all chickens, of all ages. It doesn't contain all the necessary nutrients chickens need, and is a high source of fat. If offered scratch in one bowl and their normal layer pellets in another, my chickens will eat the scratch over the pellet hands down every time !!! It's kinda like giving a kid the choice between candy or spinach for dinner. Very rare is the child that screams, 'I'll have the spinach, please...'. And so it goes with chickens. Not that you have to avoid scratch altogether. Not at all. Just use it as an occasional treat, or in the winter when they'll utilize the fat in it to keep warm.

 

[LovemyBabies]

Scratch should be used sparingly with all chickens, of all ages.  It doesn't contain all the necessary nutrients chickens need, and is a high source of fat.  If offered scratch in one bowl and their normal layer pellets in another, my chickens will eat the scratch over the pellet hands down every time !!!  It's kinda like giving a kid the choice between candy or spinach for dinner.  Very rare is the child that screams, 'I'll have the spinach, please...'.  And so it goes with chickens.  Not that you have to avoid scratch altogether.  Not at all.  Just use it as an occasional treat, or in the winter when they'll utilize the fat in it to keep warm.

We give ours a handful (depending on number if birds in pen) of scratch only in mornings as a "keep them busy" while we do food and water- sometimes we've has to give to get them in for the nite - rest of the day they only get their feed and forage - this I find is a good regiment with them so they don't rely on the scratch for as food- ours it's a routine now and let you know it's time for their scratch. Lol

 

[mightymax]

I've seen it used that way before with great success! Isn't it just amazing how quickly they have us trained...!!!

 

[nikki_r5]

I am wondering as to when is it ok to feed 7wk old chicks "scratch" ?

The hen is still with them
This Mama & 3 chicks (2- 1day old, 1- 2day old chick) were a "Gift from a friend !"
7 weeks ago today . . . .


They are all just on Chick Feed.

Thank You for your replies ...

I'm just confused, since the Mama is still w/ them and she has started to lay again, shouldn't she be eating something other than just Chick Feed ?