Hi Guys, just thought I would introduce myself. My name is Tigerpie (well my online name anyway) I have 2 chickens that my neighbor got for me when he purchased some chickens from a farm. (one of those farms where they are kept in cages to lay eggs :-( .. They cost me a $1 each, and I believe they are around 14-18 months old. I have a chicken coop for them that is about 6.2 metres long by about 2.10 metres wide. This is the area they can run around in, and I put there feed and water. They have a little ramp that they walk up to get to where they sleep and lay eggs. This area is divided into "boxes" on each side and the bigger area in the middle. Each "box" is about 55cm x 50cm and the area in the middle is about 110cm long by about 105cm wide. I'm guessing I could fit 4 chickens in here comfortably. They lay about 3 eggs every 2 days and I am happy with this amount. I let them free range during the day around my house, which is about 2 acres so i think there is plenty of room for them. I started feeding them layer pellets, but I don't think they liked that too much, so now I feed them scratch mix with some layer pellets thrown in.. Just to see if I can get rid of the stuff rather then throwing it away. I have also been feeding them food scrapes, tomatoes, apples, watermelon carrots, ham, beef pretty much anything. The only thing I haven't feed them is bread, as I have been told that if they don't digest the bread properly then it can go moldy and kill them / make them very sick. Either way, its a bit of fun and the first time I have ever owned an animal. I've got a few questions which I will be posting on the other forums, So I look forward to "meeting" the guys and gals on here and getting some advice. Cheers people Tigerpie.
Glad you joined us! Feel free to ask lots of questions! We're all here to help. Be careful about feeding too much scratch or other treats--scratch is like chicken candy. It doesn't have enough nutrients (especially protein) to sustain laying hens or growing birds. In general, scratch and scraps should make up 10% or less of a chicken's total diet.
OK thanks BantamLover21. I will double check the name of the feed, as you described it, it is not scratch mix I am feeding them. it looks like wild bird feed to be honest. Or should the layer pellets remain as there main source of food?
Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. You've received some good advice from BantamLover21. Commercial feeds are specially formulated to meet all of a chicken's nutritional needs. Feeding them too many treats will make them fat and unhealthy. It is the equivalent of us eating too many potato chips and candy bars. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
Maybe a different brand of layer feed would please them, or it you slightly dampen what they have now. Come to think of it - have they been de-beaked before you got them. That could be the reason they don't like the feed - it may be hard for them to pick up. They may like it as a mash instead.