Hi from Bulgaria

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caromay

In the Brooder
May 15, 2020
2
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Hi, I’m Caroline, I’m new to chicken keeping. I’ve got five chickens, because there’s just me and my partner. We’re also new to Bulgaria, but that’s a different story. Suffice it to say that we’ve got a beautiful house with outbuildings, one of which was already set up for chickens. We got our chickens at the market three weeks ago. Everyone out here in the villages keeps chickens, so there’s always lots for sale, of varying ages (of course, all this has been put on hold during the virus, but we managed to get some). Ours were said to be eight months old - very healthy looking, and I assumed that they were already laying. I don’t know what breed they are - too difficult in Bulgarian! - they’re mainly black (beautiful, iridescent feathers with green and purple sheen) with golden/tan streaks at the neck and coming down the body in varying amounts. I knew they’d have to settle before they started laying, but it’s been three weeks and I’m getting impatient! They’ve got lots of space to free-roam, with masses of wild greens to eat. I’m giving them the feed that was recommended by the seller. I’ve got them used to me by visiting them several times a day to change their water and check their feed (I’m retired, by the way, so have this luxury). I usually give them something extra on the ground, like millet, oats, cooked rice, leftover sourdough bread. They love it all! Am I giving them too many extras so they’re not eating so much of their proper food? I know they need a certain level of protein. Can anyone advise me? I’m sorry, I’m sure you’ve heard all this a thousand times! Best wishes.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC. Treats should constitute no more than 10% of daily food intake. I only used millet seeds as a means of getting my flock in the run, if I was leaving the house. Maybe cut out the treats for the time being and rely on proprietary feed as it’s nutritionally balanced.
 
Hello, Caroline, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
I would stop all the treats until they resume eating a proper amount of their complete balanced food. The treat feeding gets out of hand very quickly. You just don't realize how much you are feeding until they start refusing their normal food and hold out for the treats. I've taken out a handful of dry Flock Raiser and tossed it to my flock. They think it's a treat because I've tossed it out and they love it.
 

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