Food Alternative...

[ginjaninja86]

Hi Guys,

This morning I used the last of my layers mash, and I didn't have time to go to the farm to buy some more.

I will be buying some after work tomorrow but I don't get home until around 5pm. Is there anything I can give them in the morning to keep them going?

Thank you

 

[Demosthine]

Since it's only a one-time deal (or maybe two if you feed them in the morning, too), you can give them some oatmeal, any kind of oats, millet, or even some wild bird seed that may be laying around your house. Then, of course, there's scrambled or hard-boiled eggs, fruit and vegetable scraps. Virtually anything will work to get you by.

For long-term feeding, you want to make sure they have a good, balanced diet, but a short-term situation like this, virtually anything goes.

 

[ginjaninja86]

That's great, thank you.

I don't know if this is right or wrong, but I've been doing it for 2 years since I rescued them... they have mixed corn in a feeder all the time, then I feed them layers in the morning. Am I feeding them too much?

So I could give them some porridge?

 

[Demosthine]

You can't really feed them too much. They'll regulate their eating, unlike most dogs or cats. Remember, they are scavengers that eat virtually anything and everything they find while foraging in the fields or forests, depending on the environment. Bugs, weeds, grass, it's all food to them. They tend to stay away from the plants that are poisonous to them, too. It has a distinctive taste that is not appealing to them.

In terms of the corn, you can feed that too much. If you feed too much corn, it causes them to store large amounts of fat around their vent area and can cause severe problems with laying eggs. In the photo below, you can see the large layers of fat surrounding the vent. Do note that this girl had several other problems that led to BeeKissed culling her. You can read about it on this thread. From what I've read so far, it seems to be a very small portion of their overall diet and used more for scratch during the winter to keep them warm at night.

​

 

[ginjaninja86]

So should it be the other way round, as in, mash/pellets all day for them to peck at and corn once daily?

 

[Demosthine]

Correct. You should also look at fermenting their feed. It will not only reduce their food intake, but is also healthier and more nutritious for them. Google it and you'll get some excellent information.

The recommendation is no more than a handful of corn or scratch per day per hen. I would err on the side of caution, though, and use less.

 

[ginjaninja86]

Thank you so much for you help and advice!
So my next questions are...

Should I leave the mash dry of mix with water? I've always mixed with water, (warm water in the winter), and never even considered leaving it dry.

Is mash or pellets better?

 

[Demosthine]

Check out the info on fermented feed. It'll answer that plus more.

 

[kitchenchick]

We've started using fermented feed with ours and they absolutely love it! I've noticed less poop, and alot less waste. I don't think I'll go back to the old way I use to feed.