scratch?

[jk216]

I feed my girls (Hen's) porridge made with water which i mix with their layer mash every other day, they seem to enjoy it even the ducks tuck into the porridge. I also add mixed veg into their layer mash which i cook for around 5 mins to soften them up, do i need to cook the veg? In the afternoon we give them mixed corn, cucumber and tomatoes chopped up. They also have layer pellets but we don't mix this with anything, should we? We do alternate between layer mash and layer pellets so they have something different each day. I have read that chicken love yogurt, have not tried this yet with mine but plan to, what sort do i buy for them full fat or low fat? I spend so much time working out the girls menus for the week and making sure i have all the veg i need for them, I am even thinking about starting up a little veg patch in the garden just for them

 

[galanie]

Fat content isn't important on the yogurt. I just prefer whole milk products so when mine get it, they get it with all the fat the cow put in there.

 

[mancina]

I feed layer ration and only scatter a small handful of scratch once a day, for four hens. One of my hens died of liver hemorrhage because of obesity--and I didn't know she was obese. Don't feed much scratch. It makes them fat. Layer ration is food, scratch is only for an occasional treat. If you want to give them something they love without harming them, try mealworms. Or clover. But layer feed should be the only thing in their feeder once they start laying, and before that, chick starter should be the only thing in their feeder. Well, you can add a little oyster shell mixed in once they start laying, though it isn't really necessary, in my experience.