Feed and stuff!

[chookalina]

So we are feeding our chooks (Rhode Island Reds) non-GMO barley, wheat and hemp feed. Now that we are closer to laying, we are adding some oyster shell to their once per day wet feed. They will be 21 weeks on Monday Aug 27. I have to say, we have had no issues at all with picking at all, and I think it is due to the high protein value of the hemp. Anyone else using hemp in their feed? We have also had zero loss due to illness (though a five chook loss due to ravens at first free ranging, none since).

 

[FirewifeJess]

I don't think you can necessarily attribute your lack of problems with your flock to their feed. I also haven't had any problems with my flock of 12 and they've been on commercial feed all along (Purina). That's fantastic you haven't had any issues yet though, and I hope you start getting eggs soon! My RIR was our first to lay at 19.5 weeks and she's barely missed a day in the last 2 weeks.

 

[SSTupperware]

Not sure of the protein of hemp, But I'm feeding them game bird since I already have Quail...

 

[chookalina]

You could be right! This is my first flock and we went in on it with some friends, and her dad provided the feed. Hemp is pretty high protein, but I think it is more likely that we free range them so they don't get bored and pick. Thoughts? My dogs and cats get along with them too... hmm... perhaps there is something in this mountain water! lol! 19.5 weeks?? You lucky duck... er... chook!

 

[chookalina]

they also ADORE my garden shoots... grr... but watching them chase grasshoppers has replaced tv in our house.

 

[chookalina]

Hey Jessica, how many roosters do you keep with your girls (if you do)? We are going to have to do the awful deed soon with our excess cockerels (not that I am bashing anyone who eats their chickens as that was the first reason we started raising them... then I named them... big mistake). At any rate, I have about 14 hens and we were going to keep three roos, but thinking now maybe that is too many for that number of girls.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Hey there! We kept one roo until last week when I rehomed him for beig too loud for the neighbors; legal, but wanted to maintain neighborly relations. We started off with 16 and 4 were Roos; 3 we ate, one we kept, named, and then got sad we had to rehome him! The proper ratio of Roos to hens so that they don't get over ridden by the Roos

 

[FirewifeJess]

Oops I'm on my phone sorry; 1:10 is a good ratio; by the way, my birds and cat don't mind each other either

 

[HEChicken]

I've always thought of feather-picking as having more to do with crowding and boredom than diet. I've never had a problem with it either but mine have always had plenty of space.

 

[chookalina]

No worries! I think we are going to scale back to just the two then. From everything I have been reading we don't have enough hens for three to maintain civil relations. Lucky for us we live on 1000 acres, so no neighbours to bother! I get a kick out of their crowing... some are much better than others. Does it make me crazy that I can tell some of them apart by their crow? LOL!