how much alfalfa to feed can I give?

[heiditam]

I got some alfalfa horse pellets that I am grinding up. I want to mix it in their feed. How much can I give them? like how much feed to alfafa(like 4:1 or 6:1)? Anyone know? I know I cannot give too much as it is so fibrous. My girls are not laying yet, so I have switched back to grower. I want to get more greens in them as their free ranging will have to be limited after predator issues. They love spinach but I don't always have it.

 

[pdirt]

I did just this and way over-did it. I probably had 20% or more alfalfa pellets. They didn't like it. I later read you want to keep it at 5% or less. Some folks have said they soak the pellets and feed them separately, so they can choose what they want to eat. I will try this later this winter.

 

[heiditam]

I did just this and way over-did it. I probably had 20% or more alfalfa pellets. They didn't like it. I later read you want to keep it at 5% or less. Some folks have said they soak the pellets and feed them separately, so they can choose what they want to eat. I will try this later this winter.

Thanks! Yes, my girls do not love alfalfa either. I have tried soaking it, mixing it with grains or yogurt and they don't love.

 

[DaveOmak]

I got some alfalfa horse pellets that I am grinding up. I want to mix it in their feed. How much can I give them? like how much feed to alfafa(like 4:1 or 6:1)? Anyone know? I know I cannot give too much as it is so fibrous. My girls are not laying yet, so I have switched back to grower. I want to get more greens in them as their free ranging will have to be limited after predator issues. They love spinach but I don't always have it.

Where do you live.... Do you have lights in the roost so they will lay in the winter.... I have a bale of alfalfa in their run... They freely pick at it as they feel they need... And in the cold weather, they sit on the bales...

 

[heiditam]

Where do you live.... Do you have lights in the roost so they will lay in the winter.... I have a bale of alfalfa in their run... They freely pick at it as they feel they need... And in the cold weather, they sit on the bales...

I live in east TN There is greenery still here but after some predator issues, their free range is very limited.

Do you think they like the bales better? I have the pellets. I saw two diff bales at the feed store-small ones you soak and the big traditional kind-what kind do you have?

 

[DaveOmak]

I live in east TN There is greenery still here but after some predator issues, their free range is very limited.

Do you think they like the bales better? I have the pellets. I saw two diff bales at the feed store-small ones you soak and the big traditional kind-what kind do you have?

I have lights on in the coop... they come on a 12:30 AM until 10:00 AM and the sun sets at 4:30 pm.... 16 hours of light....

I grow alfalfa and put 40# bales in their run for them to pick at... they find leaves and stuff to eat and they stay busy picking... I don't soak the bales...

This is from the "LIVE CHAT" with Purina a week or 2 ago....

DrMikelleRoeder

• 
• 

• Joined: 11/2014
• Posts: 38
• offline

• Select All Posts By This User

Are you providing at least 16 hours of light per day? Without it, they will not lay.

 

[heiditam]

I have lights on in the coop... they come on a 12:30 AM until 10:00 AM and the sun sets at 4:30 pm.... 16 hours of light....

I grow alfalfa and put 40# bales in their run for them to pick at... they find leaves and stuff to eat and they stay busy picking... I don't soak the bales...

This is from the "LIVE CHAT" with Purina a week or 2 ago....

DrMikelleRoeder

• 
• 

• Joined: 11/2014
• Posts: 38
• offline

• Select All Posts By This User

Are you providing at least 16 hours of light per day? Without it, they will not lay.

Thank you I Just got some lights-going to set timer and get them in the coop tomorrow. Sun rises at 7am and sets at 5PM currently.