Out of feed for two days... Help!

[ChickNanny13]

Thank you @Texas Kiki

I don't like the smell but my Mom/Sister/Brother use moth balls in the attic of the house & in the closets. We have those moths, Hubby says it's the ones that eat his shirts but he can't handle to smell worst than me. After he passed earlier this year, I tried some of the "lavender" scented packets (Walmart) ... Tossed some in the closets & room, not our bedroom did put couple in the closet. I swear there's less of them. Will continue along with the bay leaf

 

[Sea Wolf]

Drive to a feed store that isn't near you and get the right food for them.

 

[Criticalicious]

Some kinds of wild bird seed can be given to chickens in short term and these are commonly found at Walmart. For example black oil sunflower seeds with shell on, millet, mealworms, corn, safflower seeds are all healthy treats.

To the person feeding their chickens food that's "gone off" - if you mean fruits and veggies that are overripe, wilted or limp, that's fine. But you should never feed moldy food to chickens nor cats and dogs for that matter.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Some kinds of wild bird seed can be given to chickens in short term and these are commonly found at Walmart. For example black oil sunflower seeds with shell on, millet, mealworms, corn, safflower seeds are all healthy treats.

In addition to Criticalicious' suggestions, thistle, chia, & sesame seeds are popular with my flock. For an added nutritional boost, you can sprout the seeds you offer. I've even sprouted watermelon seeds for them but they're just as happy to eat them whole.

To the person feeding their chickens food that's "gone off" - if you mean fruits and veggies that are overripe, wilted or limp, that's fine. But you should never feed moldy food to chickens nor cats and dogs for that matter.

Nope, never feed them moldy stuff, but I grew up in a household that had refrigerator rules that were something like... you can eat leftovers from today, yesterday, and even the day before that...all else that's older than that becomes dog food! (Or in my case now, chicken food and dog food). I don't give this to my quail as it's my understanding that they cannot have meat, and I have meat in almost everything I make.

 

[greenlydia]

Normally I'd say let them out to free range...….they'll find plenty to keep their bellies full, but if they are only a month old, I'd probably skip that option for now. You've gotten some great ideas about "emergency rations" until you can restock. (If you give them rice, please cook it first!) This is a good chance to go through your refrigerator......all those bits and bobs that will turn into science projects are perfect for your girls. If something has gone too far and has mold or is rotten, don't give it to them. They'd eat it, but would you? I NEVER give my girls anything I wouldn't eat. I once gave them a huge pan of leftover lasagna, a huge bowl of leftover salad and a lot of garlic bread. They loved it and I'm guessing they would have liked the jug of Chianti, too. Check out your veggie crisper.....if it's anything like mine, you'll find all sorts of goodies in there! Limp lettuce and wilted celery, a couple tomatoes that were still good but had gotten rather "wrinkly," which THEY didn't care about. (They aren't as picky as me!) In the pantry I stuck gold. Mac and cheese, oatmeal, raisins (make sure your dogs don't eat any!) Boxes and boxes of stale crackers that I crushed up with the rolling pin, cans of corn and beans and peaches and pears. And for desert, I went out into the back 40 and hauled a wheelbarrow of dirt and grass and weeds into their coop and you'd think I'd given them a birthday cake! Except for the dirt and grass, this diet is horrible for chickens on a regular basis, but for emergencies, your girls never have to go hungry! And if you want to give your girls a real treat during the summer, buy a huge watermelon (with seeds) cut it in half and by the end of the day you'll have nothing but a very empty rind for your compost bin!

 

[Ebony Rose]

They loved it and I'm guessing they would have liked the jug of Chianti, too.

I've made a mash with their regular chicken feed and beer before. Not on a regular basis, but my flock was depressed, really depressed as they'd just lost their rooster to a predator and they were all stressed, shocked and listless. They seriously got drunk and had a wake for him. The next day, all was fine on the homestead.

Boxes and boxes of stale crackers that I crushed up with the rolling pin, cans of corn and beans

Wanna umph the ante a bit? Break some eggs into those crushed crackers, add that corn and or beans to it then fry them. After cooling, they are excellent 'cookies' for your chickens to nosh on.

 

[doublecluck]

Just go to Walmart, pet smart or pet Co and get some chicken food. Doesn't have to be the same kind they always eat. Even 16 percent crumble will work until you can get your normal food..

I'm really curious about your location. I live in the country in KY and the stores you mentioned do not sell chicken feed in my area. I wonder why that is. ??

 

[Ebony Rose]

I'm really curious about your location. I live in the country in KY and the stores you mentioned do not sell chicken feed in my area. I wonder why that is. ??

I'm going to guess that they live somewhere that has many many families and small farms that can support the shelf-space for small bags of chicken feed (read that as: high turnover so worthy of the space).

 

[2 many chickens]

I'm really curious about your location. I live in the country in KY and the stores you mentioned do not sell chicken feed in my area. I wonder why that is. ??

I live in VA. Two Walmarts carry chicken feed near me, the one closest to me does not. The Petco varies, sometimes they have it, sometimes they don't.

 

[centrarchid]

Since OP is in Utah, I assume horse feed is easy to come by. A mix like sweet feed makes for a good energy source that is otherwise low in protein. If a feed used for fish in ponds is available then use that as part of a mix. What I imagine a lawn in Utah has in terms of forage is very poor unless area foraged is huge as in several acres. My youngsters could do several days without feed of any sort because of acreage available and abundance of forage per unit acre. They would quickly move beyond area I have effective predator management over.

Even in Utah you should be able to take car a couple hours each way to get feed for chicks. Pricey, but doable.