- Dec 31, 2012
- 127
- 4
- 83
I have one adult rooster, one laying hen who's one year old and three pullets about 3-4 months old.
I learned what I know from my step father but I'm not sure it's ideal. He told me to feed them scratch grains and layer (crumbles) so I have one feeder full of scratch grains and another full of layer crumble and a bowl of grit. I had chick starter for the young ones but the lady at the feed store said it was fine to switch them to the adult feed now so now the young ones have to eat the adult food. I don't let my chickens free range because there are too many predators but I may start letting them out for an hour or two before it gets dark. I really am scared though. To supplement their diet I pull up grass and some other green stuff around the yard and I also thrown in old bananas, salad greens, bread, rice, oats, etc.
Now I see that some of y'all don't think scratch grain feed is good for summer feeding so I don't know if having a feeder full of that is a good idea (versus just throwing a cup or two in the run) and if not I don't know what to feed the rooster because he primarily eats the scratch grains as his main food.
I put vitamin/electrolyte powder in their water.
Once the other hens start laying I will give them oyster shell. I'm afraid to put any out for just the one layer because I think it will harm the younger ones or am I wrong.
Thanks
I learned what I know from my step father but I'm not sure it's ideal. He told me to feed them scratch grains and layer (crumbles) so I have one feeder full of scratch grains and another full of layer crumble and a bowl of grit. I had chick starter for the young ones but the lady at the feed store said it was fine to switch them to the adult feed now so now the young ones have to eat the adult food. I don't let my chickens free range because there are too many predators but I may start letting them out for an hour or two before it gets dark. I really am scared though. To supplement their diet I pull up grass and some other green stuff around the yard and I also thrown in old bananas, salad greens, bread, rice, oats, etc.
Now I see that some of y'all don't think scratch grain feed is good for summer feeding so I don't know if having a feeder full of that is a good idea (versus just throwing a cup or two in the run) and if not I don't know what to feed the rooster because he primarily eats the scratch grains as his main food.
I put vitamin/electrolyte powder in their water.
Once the other hens start laying I will give them oyster shell. I'm afraid to put any out for just the one layer because I think it will harm the younger ones or am I wrong.
Thanks