Feeding Questions

[MakeMineCadburys]

Hi

My 7 ladies are in a two story condo - the top is their closed in coop - it's two feet off the ground, the bottom level is fenced in and just sitting on the dirt. They free-range around the yard 4 or 5 days out of the week, usually for several hours at a time.

They eat Layer Crumbles, and table scraps of all kinds (except chicken - sorry, personal preference) fruits, veggies, pasta, etc. I also have Scratch, but have not given lately because it was too hot out!

The three that are laying, the eggs have nice hard shells. The other four should start laying sometime in December.

So far, I have not given them GRIT and I have not given them any CALCIUM supplementation (other than yogurt, occasionally).

Should I be giving (supplementing) them grit and/or calcium?? I want to keep them healthy and happy (and makin' eggs!!!)

Thanks!!!

 

[SheeReno]

I can't be the best to answer...our girls haven't laid yet but if the shells look good.....I mean...if it ain't broke?

Still, some oyster shell might not be a bad idea just in case, and the word I hear around here is if your chickens free range then they don't need grit.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Your layer crumbles have enough calcium in them for the chickens. Since they free range they are getting some grit but it won't hurt since you are feeding them scrapes to offer some grit in their coop/run area as well.

 

[rdranch]

I'm on my second bag of oyster shell in three years with two small flocks. Looking at how much they go through in a month they definately get what they truly need in their feed. If you can offer it easily do it if not try giving them dried ground up egg shells as a supplement. Its low cost and easy to do.