New chicken owner with feed questions!

[Fraunie]

I inherited 4 hens and a turkey (hen) when we bought our house 2 weeks ago. When I went to buy them more food, the feed store people have given me mixed advice so I'm curious as to what I should be feeding them....and how to go about switching their feed.

During the day they are free roaming in a corral that is very large, they share it with two sulcata tortoises. The previous owner was feeding them veggie scraps, fruit scraps (citrus heavy) and scratch grains. Thats it. First, I switched them to a lay mash, which they wre none too happy about, and just back-talked a bunch, and more ended up on the coop floor than their bellies, I am sure. The turkey started acting really weird and attacking one o the hens, so I got a crumble ffor her, as the first feed store said that the turkey might want something with more texture. the second feed store told em to put them all on crumble, never mash and occasionally the scratch grain or treats.

We are just moving in this week, so I will be able to supplement them with veggie peelings etc soon. But this week I did have an instance of egg cracking by someone and am worried that it will happen again. I was told the scratch grain was 'candy' and should only be given on occassion (remember previous owner was filling the feeder with this) so I'm thinking they might just be mad at the transition? now the kids and I use the grain to hand feed. In the feeder I put mostly crumble, with a little of the lay mash and a little of the scratch.

What would you recommend? Three of the hens are laying, probably about 2 years old, one bantam is probably 5 yrs old and I have no idea on the turkey. I'm thinking she is only a year, but I haven't seen any eggs from her in nearly 3 weeks.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I believe turkeys only lay in spring like geese. Unless you plan on a tom to hatch eggs next spring the hen is either a pet or food. The banty probably is done laying eggs so again, a pet or stock pot, soup. Both of these are fine with crumbles. Your laying hens should get added calcium, as they all feed at same feeder you can do this by supplying their own shells back or oyster shells (you can buy this in bulk most stores, they'll sell it by the pound, 10# would last you a long time.) Supplying a calcium supplement in side dish will ensure the layers have strong eggs as they'll only feed on it as needed.

The feed store was correct in that scratch is just a treat. Also a great motivator in getting them where you want them, back in coop or back to run if they escape. Food scraps are fine. We've got a compost pile so only the prime left overs are fed direct to birds, they get into the compost bin when free ranging.

As for the layer pellets, well, you may find you really like chickens and if your dealing with small hassle of having them then you might as well get enough eggs to supply your family. Obviously, get a few more layers, grown pullets to 2 years would be a good choice. Then just feed them layer pellets, they'll get used to it eventually and pellets are far less wasteful.