Comfy winter treat to keep warm

[Donna valvano]

I couldn't get my hens to eat warm grits then the next batch I put in LF probiotic strawberry yogurt and they loved it
Now I have to work on oatmeal they only like it raw they are young I worry about the cold so I try warm treats

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Welcome, mine love warm oatmeal, I mix it half and half with some of their ration, and sometimes I mix in some scratch. I don't cook it, I just add warm water to it. Mine go nuts for them.

 

[junebuggena]

Don't worry about treats. All they really need is their regular feed. The reason people give things like oats and corn in the winter is because in sudden cold spells, chickens burn more calories than they would normally, in temps they are acclimated to. Extra calories are helpful in those sorts of situations.
If your birds are used to the average winter temps, they don't really need anything extra. If you've got a cold front moving your way, give them a bit of scratch in the evening.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi Donna and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us
When giving treats, be sure to limit them to no more than 10% of the total diet.

 

[staceyj]

if you want to warm up their tummies just mix their regular feed with hot water and let it sit on your counter top until it's absorbed and cool enough to eat. I use a medium size dog bowl. its AMAZING how mch it puffs up once it soaks up the water, a half inch dry becomes 2/3 the height of the bowl! I think mine like this better this way than they like it dry!

 

[chickens really]

I don't provide anything other than regular feed..Too much worry about feeding Chickens in the Winter...Feed as usual..Mine get a treat once or twice a week..wetting feed can lead to sour crop or impacted crop..Not worth the risk..

 

[staceyj]

I don't provide anything other than regular feed..Too much worry about feeding Chickens in the Winter...Feed as usual..Mine get a treat once or twice a week..wetting feed can lead to sour crop or impacted crop..Not worth the risk..

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[GC-Raptor]

My hens get the same feed and treats as in summer. Only difference is they don't free range 2 hours a day for about 3 months during winter. So between that and the cold, they eat 3 times as much feed, than summer time, and I give them an extra treat of seeds, when high temps stay in the 20s Fahrenheit when I check for eggs again around 1 pm. GC

 

[Donna valvano]

Trying hi fat they shouldn’t be molting and first winter so worried handling the cold they are skin bone and feathers don’t seem to be able to get weight on them they are growing in size though active and eyes are clear just can’t get weight on them

 

[rjohns39]

Trying hi fat they shouldn’t be molting and first winter so worried handling the cold they are skin bone and feathers don’t seem to be able to get weight on them they are growing in size though active and eyes are clear just can’t get weight on them

• What is their regular ration?
  • % Protein
  • % Calcium
• How old are they?