Help! What do I feed my chickens?

[kimthom66]

I am new (very new) to the chicken world and need help in the feeding department.

I have purchased the layer feed (crumble) and have that in a hanger feeder. I do add some oyster shells to it. however, I have been giving them corn in the morning and at night and at night I add meal worms?

I have been reading some more and think I may be over feeding them? I do bring out scraps in the morning, lettuce tomatoes that type of thing. and they free range for about an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon for a few hours, but the scratch and meal worms helps me get them back in the run?

If I don't feed them cracked corn, what should I throw in their run for scratch.

 

[Judy]

I prefer to offer the oyster shell separately so they don't end up eating more than they need, only what they need. Corn is OK in small quantities, but they tend to regard it like candy, and eat it when they would do better to eat something more nutritious. For that reason it works well as a bribe. Some mealworms are good because they give them an animal protein source, which I personally think is a very good idea, as most feeds are all veg, and chickens are omnivores. Scraps are fine, too. I've read here of a rule of thumb to limit the extras to 10% of their intake, in order to keep the balance of protein, vitamins, minerals etc. as it should be. If your table scraps give a good balance, though, or with the mealworms make a good balance, I don't think you have to be so restrictive. Where I live, the "old fashioned" method was table scraps, cracked corn, and free range forage for whatever the could find, period. They were probably not as well nourished, but they survived, laid eggs and reproduced. Basically I'd say you are doing fine, really.

Many or most people here feed the basic feed (layer, flock raiser, etc.) free choice, so if that is overfeeding, a lot of us are doing just that.

 

[kimthom66]

I only put a very small amount of oyster shell in their layer crumble.

I think I am giving too much corn? I only have 4 chickens and have been giving them about a handful of cracked corn AM and PM? And the PM with meal worms? So I have been giving them a "treat" as food 2x a day? And some say they only do corn in the winter months? I have seen a food called just Scratch? And perhaps I should just give them scratch 1 x a day? But I use the cracked corn to get them back in the run in the morning and night? Maybe keep doing that just give them less?

Also I have 4 baby chicks that I have tried to give a few treats (mealworms, cheerios) and so far they don't go crazy for them? But I want to have this feeding down before they grow up and join the flock?!

 

[LoneOak]

You're giving way to many treats! Put laying pellets or crumbles in a feeder and let them have all that they want as a primary food. Once a day you may through them a little scratch feed, which is usually 3 grains mixed like corn, millet and something else. If you have table scraps its ok to give them some but don't over do it. If you want lots of good eggs then the layer feed needs to be #1, the rest is just treats.

If your chicks are still babies and not laying yet instead of laying feed they need to be getting starter grower feed until you see the first few eggs then switch to layer feed. You don't need to be getting them used to going in just because they will get a treat, they will learn on their own rather quick to go in when it starts to get dark.

 

[kimthom66]

My young chicks are on starter/ grower crumble and I will try to hold off a bit on the feeding of the scratch then. Thank you!