G'day from downunder.

[oldchookie]

Glad to have found this site and hoping someone can answer a question for me. I live in Northern New South Wales, Australia, and I am retired, a hobby farmer and amongst the menagerie I have ten chooks - all "Isa Brown" or "Lohmann". They are about 4 years old so egg production is starting to slow down. I get around 3 to 4 eggs per day. I have been getting 7-8 daily during the year.

I have one chook who is blind and I keep her separate from the others as she was getting picked on a lot. I suppose I will keep her isolated until her time comes.

I have a problem with my chooks seeming to be addicted to sunflower seed. I like to feed them a good 16% protein layer grain but the makers have introduced sunflower seed into it, which I have previously given out separately. Now the girls just pick madly at the grain to get the sunflower seed, leaving a carpet of grain on the floor. I have tried not giving them any more grain for a couple of days but the carpet doesn't seem to diminish. They do get kitchen and vegetable garden scraps too, so I suppose they are fed too well. Has anyone out there had the same problem? I cannot find a chicken feed other than just pellets that does not have the sunflower and I fear if I just feed them pellets that the egg production will really go down.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Hi i cant really help you out with this although i have laying flock as i sell my eggs and i give them layer pellets but they get to free range so get plenty of bugs and grass.
Come join us here on the Australian Thread, drop in say hi and discuss "Aussie" Stuff.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...d-that-funny-little-island/1360#post_10155716
I put you on the last page so you can just jump straight in.

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Chickens can get spoiled pretty quick. I've just fed mine their morning pellets and walked out a few minutes later to find them at the back door, begging for scratch. I think sitting picking out the sunflower seeds from their food would be a waste of time you can spend doing better things, so cut back on the scraps and treats, so they'll get hungry and eat the grains. Or maybe feed them their grains in the morning and keep the scraps for a late afternoon treat? Also, put the grain in feeders, so they don't mess it up on the floor and waste it. Chicken food is pricey nowadays. Leave the grains in the feeders and don't top it up with a fresh supply for sunflower seed mix until they've eaten some of it. If the food is clean they'll eat it when they're hungry.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings, oldchookie, and

! Pleased you joined us! I X2 what sumi advised. Best of luck to you and have a Happy New Year!

 

[sourland]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Chickens can get spoiled pretty quick. I've just fed mine their morning pellets and walked out a few minutes later to find them at the back door, begging for scratch. I think sitting picking out the sunflower seeds from their food would be a waste of time you can spend doing better things, so cut back on the scraps and treats, so they'll get hungry and eat the grains. Or maybe feed them their grains in the morning and keep the scraps for a late afternoon treat? Also, put the grain in feeders, so they don't mess it up on the floor and waste it. Chicken food is pricey nowadays. Leave the grains in the feeders and don't top it up with a fresh supply for sunflower seed mix until they've eaten some of it. If the food is clean they'll eat it when they're hungry.

X 2

from old sourland.

 

[Kevin565]

 

[Carcajou]

Welcome to BYC

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

I'm sorry I can't offer much advice on your feed problem, but I would suggest checking out the Feeding and Watering Your Flock section in the Raising Backyard Chickens forum.

 

[liz9910]

from California! You've received some good advice here.