feeding chickens

[jessica1982]

Ok, I have a couple questions. I've been doing lots of research about what to feed and what not to feed. And of course giving my girls samples to see what they like and don't like. I've read things about only feeding them plants and table scraps, or only scratch. My girls are almost 1 month old and had to be moved to the coop because the pool in my bathroom wasn't working out, and hubby was having to save one or two at 2am when they couldn't get back in. They love watermelon, mealworms, crickets so far. I really want to feed them things other than just scratch, but I keep reading that the things they enjoy to eat are just treats, and that they should mostly get scratch. But on other sites it says they usually only feed table scraps. Which is it? I don't want to only feed scratch, but I don't want obese girls which one site warns about.

 

[jesirose]

You should feed them a starter-grower feed as their main food, and then all the fresh fruits and veggies you feel like.

 

[jessica1982]

They have their organic chick feed available at all times, but they really like the other stuff as well. And if they were free range or eating bugs that wouldn't be too much for them. So what is all the hype about?

 

[jesirose]

What?

 

[jessica1982]

I mean if its good to feed them a variety of foods, why do so many people make it seem dangerous for the chickens?

 

[jesirose]

I don't think they do. You should ask them.

 

[ChickenJohn1]

I agree that a starter/grower feed is important as it provides a more consistent source of protein that is important early on for general development. My girls also are nuts for meal worms and generally interested in kitchen scraps, but I like to keep regular commercial feed available for balance. I count on them to know what is best.

 

[jessica1982]

I keep their feed available at all times. I just wanted to be sure that feeding them other things as well was safe. I want to keep their diet as natural as possible.

 

[Jenny77]

My silkie hens have hatched out 18 chicks so far. I keep chick starter/grower in a separate feeder, but the chicks are following the hen's lead and free ranging in their fenced area. They all seem to be growing properly. My meat chicks get fed twice a day now and are big enough to get out in their fenced area and free range. All the adult hens and roosters have feed available in the big feeders, but free range all day everyday. I also throw kitchen scapes and scratch feed as treats. In my opinion, total free range would be as natural of a diet as a chicken could get. Commercial feed is a new thing, in the grand scheme of things.

 

[jessica1982]

I just want to be sure I'm doing this right, and not giving them the wrong things. They are eating their organic chick starter, but I also want them to be able to be chickens and eat like nature intends. I have a tractor, so I can move them and they can free range so to speak. But the more I looked up what to feed them the more I read that table food , garden clippings, and such are treatss and should only be fed occasionally. Then of course other posts saying no only free range, garden clippings etc. These are my first babies, so of course I want to get it right.