New to chickens

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danleen

danleen

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I just have got myself 3 Sussex hens this is the first time to keep hens,they are 17weeks what is the best food for them and is kitchen scraps ok
 
Welcome to BYC!
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We're glad to have you.

The majority of their diet should be commercial chicken feed- for now, they should be on grower feed, but it should be changed to layer feed in the next few weeks. Kitchen scraps should make up less than 10% of their diet.
 
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Glad you joined us!

Wyandottes7 gave you good advice. Commercial feed is best for them right now.

Feel free to ask any other questions you have--we're all here to help!
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Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Kitchen scrapes and other treats should only take up 10% of their daily diet. They need some sort of commercial feed besides it. Either feed them a layer feed, a grower feed or a flock raiser. This will insure that they get the proper nutrients they need. Kitchen scrapes are good to feed but are not the best in nutrition.

Greens, however, can be fed all the time any time. Grass also counts as greens. Amazingly, grass provides approximately one quarter of a chicken’s daily nutrient requirements resulting in them eating less feed and lowing your feed costs! Grass is high in protein, iron and vitamins E and C. However, there are some things to be carful of when allowing your flock to eat grass. Make sure it’s not treated with any chemicals or pesticides. Also, if you watch your chickens free range you will notice that they only eat the tops of the grass blade. So when harvesting grass for them, don’t give them big, long pieces as this can result in crop binding or impacted crop.

Also they need extra calcium once they start laying. Oyster shell or eggshells can be fed as the calcium.

Good luck with your flock!
 
Thanks for all replies will take all on board
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. Speckled Sussex are a wonderful breed; hardy, friendly, and good layers of large, brown eggs. Definitely keep the kitchen scraps and other treats to less than 10% of their diet, or you will end up with fat and unhealthy chickens. It's the equivalent of us eating potato chips and candy bars. Commercial feeds are specially formulated to meet their dietary needs. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your Sussex.
 

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