Need help with feeding the right feed.

[andypettis3370]

I am new to chickens and have had some for a little while now. I was out checking and feeding them today and noticed the my young rooster and other hens was getting thin in the breast and legs. I am feeding Dumor layer crumbles and Dumor scratch. Do I need to be feeding anything with these or is this enough? The hens are laying good and they are very energetic. I was just wondering what was causing them to start to get thin?

 

[Tuhmu]

Do you have feed available for them all the time or for only certain periods of the day? Also, do you feed the scratch grain as all day access? If so they may be only eating the scratch grain, have you been having to refill the crumbles?

I know when I feed my chickens scratch feed, they would eat that up before they would even give the crumbles a second glance. I mostly just give it out as a treat now, tossing it on the ground for them to peck at.

 

[andypettis3370]

Yes they have feed available at all times. They never run out of feed. I feed the scratch also, I may bee feeding them too much of that. I give them 2 cups a day. Do I need to feed anything else other than the layer and cut back on the scratch?

 

[Tuhmu]

You should be good with that I would think, as to why they appear to be losing weight....not sure what that would be. Two cups sounds about right, depending on how many hens you have I guess.

 

[andypettis3370]

I have 5 hens and one rooster. They are laying but they just fill thin and I dont like that. I put fresh grass in the pen everyday. But far as the scratch that is what they get 2 cups of a day. I am going to try cutting the scratch out for a few days and give them just feed.

 

[Tuhmu]

Have you dewormed your chickens? It could be they are feeding un wanted parasites.



Edit ~ deworm, not worm the chickens

 

[Hooligans7]

Have you dewormed your chickens? It could be they are feeding un wanted parasites.



Edit ~ deworm, not worm the chickens

Good advice! It reminded me of the "tapeworm diet" for humans. I hear it's very effective, but I'll pass.

 

[andypettis3370]

What is a good wormer

 

[KuroKitsune]

two cups scratch maybe your problem too...i have the same amount of birds but they get half or less the amount of scratch you give yours.



and i think wazine is they most often used used and recommended wormer