Feeding your flock during cold winters

[britinpa]

Any tips on what extra to give to my pullets to help out during the winter months. I was going to get a flock block - is that something you keep in the coop/run 24/7? Some of you have done warm oats (with a dash of cayenne) - would you give this in the morning, or p.m after they have had time to eat their regular feed. What are your thoughts on suet cakes - some say they are too fattening - how often would you offer one to them?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I feed and water in the morning (slightly warm water and regular pellets) and then at night I give slightly warm water and warmed mash (pellets mixed with hot water. By the time it's mixed, it's cooled to warm, and they eat it fast enough that it doesn't freeze

 

[britinpa]

I feed and water in the morning (slightly warm water and regular pellets) and then at night I give slightly warm water and warmed mash (pellets mixed with hot water. By the time it's mixed, it's cooled to warm, and they eat it fast enough that it doesn't freeze

Thank you! Mine are still on crumbles - I may go to pellet though. If I add water to crumbles, how much would you give per 8 chickens?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I just fill the bowl up. They usually eat what they need

 

[Folly's place]

I feed an all-flock feed, Purina's Flock Raiser, all year to everyone. Separate oyster shell for the laying hens, some garden scraps, a tiny amount of scratch as a treat. The flock free ranges most days, and then winter comes, and there aren't any worms or bugs in the snow, which they hate anyway. Their diet doesn't change, except that the flock eats more Flock Raiser during the winter.
Here we have birds of both sexes, young and old, and this is easy and works very well.
Mary

 

[21hens-incharge]

There is debate on how healthy oatmeal is for chickens. I would treat it as any other treat and use very sparingly.

Flock blocks I found were largely ignored here....except by mice.

Quality feed and thawed water should be available at all times during the day and can be removed at night.

 

[britinpa]

There is debate on how healthy oatmeal is for chickens. I would treat it as any other treat and use very sparingly.

Flock blocks I found were largely ignored here....except by mice.

Quality feed and thawed water should be available at all times during the day and can be removed at night.

Thanks. I definitely do not want to attract the mice!

 

[aart]

I feed an all-flock feed, Purina's Flock Raiser, all year to everyone. Separate oyster shell for the laying hens, some garden scraps, a tiny amount of scratch as a treat.

Same here.
Only thing different they get in winter is Electrolyte/Vitamin solution soaked into rolled oats during extreme cold snaps......and some occasional wheat grass.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

During extremely cold weather, I add some hot water and a dash of Rooster Booster to their chow and make a slurry. I might add a few mealworms, but they think just the plain slurry is a real capital T-R-E-A-T! In the summer, I add some cold water or freeze the slurry in a silicone cake pan. They love that too!

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

During extremely cold weather, I add some hot water and a dash of Rooster Booster to their chow and make a slurry. I might add a few mealworms, but they think just the plain slurry is a real capital T-R-E-A-T! In the summer, I add some cold water or freeze the slurry in a silicone cake pan. They love that too! View attachment 2343299

I couldn't help but notice that perfect swirl in the bowl of swirly slurry