When it starts getting real cold and my hens laying decreases do you still feed layers through out the winter? Do you keep them on layers for their entire adult life? Or....... do you switch to scratch etc. for the winter months? This is my first winter with the chickens and I'm a little nervous about their well being here in KS. Spoiled chickens!
My chickens have gamebird feed and a mix of other things so they don't depend on layer feed for their nutrition. Mix it up, give them some fresh veggie scraps from your kitchen, feed, bugs, meat scraps etc and they will be fine.
Yes keep them on layer feed all thru the winter. There's really no need to be switching feeds back and forth. You can offer some scratch as a treat, but that's all it should be is a treat. It's not a complete feed.
During the winter my chickens get layer mash. It keeps them busy. It takes a hen 30 min. to eat her daily ration of pellets, while it takes her 3 hours to eat her daily ration of mash. I also give them some wheat, and whole corn to eat, plus some kitchen scraps like lettuce, etc.
Thanks everyone for your feedback. They do get a lot of kitchen scraps and what ever the grocery store has in the 'price reduced' cart that looks good. I've never bought scratch before but they do get cracked corn now along with the layer feed. I'm going to call the store and see about the left over produce. Thanks again! K
I need help with my royal Palm hen who appears to have a impacted crop she is lethargic hardly eating or drinking I have been emptying her out and started them all on parasitic medicine help I don't want her to die
