Hello, I am new to having chickens, just got 3 olive egger pullets, about 13 weeks old. Right now, because of the cold weather, I have them in my shed in a large crate.
Here are a few feeding questions:
I have been sprinkling some timothy hay onto the newspaper in the crate. I see that they do nibble on it. Is that ok or should I leave it out?
I bought meal worms (both dried and live) for them. Is it ok to feed them a small handful a day, or is that too much?
I am wondering about oyster shell. Do I wait for them to start laying eggs to feed it to them, or start now so the eggs are nice and strong? Same with layer food.. do I start feeding it to them before they start laying?
So far they have not been given any vegetables. When should I start to give them some scraps? I know not to give them a whole lot, but I am thinking that if they don't at least have a little bit, they won't recognize it as food and won't want any.
I hope that the weather will warm up soon and they can go out into the coop.
Ted and Nancy
Here are a few feeding questions:
I have been sprinkling some timothy hay onto the newspaper in the crate. I see that they do nibble on it. Is that ok or should I leave it out?
I bought meal worms (both dried and live) for them. Is it ok to feed them a small handful a day, or is that too much?
I am wondering about oyster shell. Do I wait for them to start laying eggs to feed it to them, or start now so the eggs are nice and strong? Same with layer food.. do I start feeding it to them before they start laying?
So far they have not been given any vegetables. When should I start to give them some scraps? I know not to give them a whole lot, but I am thinking that if they don't at least have a little bit, they won't recognize it as food and won't want any.
I hope that the weather will warm up soon and they can go out into the coop.

Ted and Nancy