Feeding ready-to-lay-hens

[arpyhh]

I am getting ready-to-lay hens (Red sexlinks) they arrive in a few days!

So my question is what is better to feed them, laying mash or pellets? Are crumbles and mash the same thing?
Do I then get them scratch to throw around in the yard? My local feed guy told me to also get grit. Do I throw that around or mix it in their food?

 

[Fred's Hens]

You can feed either pellets or crumbles, as crumbles are merely pellets that are broken. Mash is what all feed starts as, and is "dusty" in appearance. I find it much better to feed mash moistened. The birds love it. Mash is often far, far cheaper as the mill grinds it themselves.

Take it easy on the scratch, as it is not a complete ration and can easily spoil them Since a pullet of the age only eats 5 ounces of feed a day, one can easily over feed the scratch unwittingly.

 

[thebanthams]

laying mash or pellets are fine. Im using mash. every morning I give them laying mash in their feeder, in the afternoon I throw scratch all over ground same for grits.

 

[arpyhh]

Ok, thank you!
Another question, how much do I feed them, if I have 10 birds, do they eat about 1/2 pound of mash each?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Not quite that much.

I'd divide the feedings into am and pm. Damp mash works best if dumped into a trough. Yes, old school.

I'd feed 3 lbs to the flock in the am and a pound in the pm. plus a toss of just a few ounce of scratch. See how that goes. You can always adjust up or down a bit. Just a head's up, they will eat more if your winters are cold. They'll need the extra calories for creating body heat.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you have gravel, sand and texture like that around your birds, they'll normally take in all the grit they need to process (grind) their food. However, that is tough in the winter when the ground is covered with snow. Providing a pan with grit in the coop or run is a good thing, especially in winter. No, do not mix it in their food.

 

[arpyhh]

Ok, good to know- I was also going to ask if they eat more during the winter months. They will be cooped up for a long time, so I wasn't sure if that causes less eating or more or no difference.

Thanks again!

 

[arpyhh]

I see, that's good to know. I'll try that

Thanks!

 

[GreenThumb19]

Where did you get your RTL pullets in ottawa?

 

[arpyhh]

We ordered them from the feed store in north Gower, all of the feed stores in the area order them from Fry's hatchery