If I cant afford organic feed....

[LindsaySinai]

and dont have the time to make it myself...what are some good things to add to my chickens diet??

 

[Tivona]

and dont have the time to make it myself...what are some good things to add to my chickens diet??

Your talking about supplements or healthy snacks in addition to what your already feeding? If you are using a balanced feed already there are lots of things you can add to their diet to improve it. Things like lettuce, dandelions, BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds), or oatmeal are great for them just remember that these are supplemental to an already balanced feed. Try checking out the Chicken Treat Chart for ideas.

If your thinking of the main part of their feed then you would need to do some research on mixing a balanced feed to get the right mix of protein, amino acids, and nutrients.

 

[LindsaySinai]

Your talking about supplements or healthy snacks in addition to what your already feeding? If you are using a balanced feed already there are lots of things you can add to their diet to improve it. Things like lettuce, dandelions, BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds), or oatmeal are great for them just remember that these are supplemental to an already balanced feed. Try checking out the Chicken Treat Chart for ideas.

If your thinking of the main part of their feed then you would need to do some research on mixing a balanced feed to get the right mix of protein, amino acids, and nutrients.

Perfect...thats exactly what I was asking. It's funny because the first 2 things you listed are the only things I've given them besides feed. What kind of oatmeal do you give yours?? The dry instant oats??

 

[lorain's fids]

Perfect...thats exactly what I was asking. It's funny because the first 2 things you listed are the only things I've given them besides feed. What kind of oatmeal do you give yours?? The dry instant oats??

I feed my 5 girls oatmeal all the time. I give them the kind I eat for breakfast-organic plain oatmeal. I don't add salt to it when I am cooking it, as salt is really not good for the chickens ( or any bird), I let theirs cool off to room temp-they love it.

Also, they are not organic feed, yet, but when I give them greens I try and give them organic greens and fruits if they aren't organic, I wash them well or peel the skin off. I figure, these chickens are making eggs for me to eat-so why not try and feed them none pesticided foods.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

During the winter

My flock gets Purina Layena. They also get a bowl of scraps daily. I have a produce stand near me that gives me all their "bad" stuff. I cut it up freeze it in baggies and then every morning I add in the kitchen scraps in a bowl, I use hot water to thaw out the produce and I add some type of warm food to it (oatmeal, warm milk, left over soup, etc). I put it in a big bowl and take it to them.

I like to think it warms them up after a nice sleep and gets them moving for the day. I only have 10 birds in the coop right now so it's not that much trouble, if I had buckets of birds I would probably just throw the produce out there and let them have at it.

In the summer I fill their feeder and toss everything cold into the run.