suitable feed other than laying pellets?

[PouleChick]

 

[SilberHenne]

I have several chickens that I treat like family and I never eat their eggs. I do feed them organic layer feed because adult hens do still need extra calcium because laying eggs will deplete their bodies of calcium regardless. I also feed them a variety of kitchen scraps and treats. Layer feed will not cause her to lay more eggs, but will prevent the painful deficiencies and illness you find with factory farmed chickens.

I also have bearded dragons and a cockatoo, and they also all lay eggs occassionally and need to be supplemented with calcium. That is all that layer feed is. Extra calcium because they lay the eggs anyway and will develop metabolic bone disease if not given the extra calcium. The reason feed stores carry different types of feed is because chicks, roosters, and older hens do not require the extra calcium and it can be unhealthy for them to consume too much. Offering an all flock type feed with oyster shells free choice on the side will allow your hen to balance her diet on her own and get the calcium she needs. Hope this puts your mind at ease.

 

[swinglady]

Hmmmmm This sounds like someone I have talked to on a different social media platform. They have their one thirteen year old chicken who lives with them in their bedroom and has done so for 5 years. They were asking for help as the hen was dehydrated, has watery diarrhea and won't eat. Said by the smell of her she has a fever. She thought she had food stuck in her throat but checked and saw nothing. She was acting like she was choking one day so they held her upside down and she vomited yellow liquid and whole pieces of corn which was fed to her a week ago. I don't know very much about chickens, just the research I have done on here. They said they were force feeding her milk and bread. I asked if she has grit and this person has never heard of grit before. They said they were giving her B12 and a tiny piece of ibuprofen and a dewormer pill.

Things like this scare me. I know I still have a LOT to learn about my feathery babies but I feel like before you have a chicken you need to do as much research as possible and listen to the wonderful people on here who have been raising chickens for many many years.

There are so many things that I would never have thought of before doing more research and there are things that are dependent on opinions (clipping wings, artificial light, heat lamps, etc.) and that is ok but there are so many things that are so important for chicken health and sanity. I feel that making sure your chicken has the proper nutrition and proper social life will help your chicken live a long and healthy life.

 

[swinglady]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pet-chicken-owners-unite.1271291/

You are going to be putting a diaper on your chicken? That does not seem like a good idea in my opinion.....

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hmmmmm This sounds like someone I have talked to on a different social media platform. They have their one thirteen year old chicken who lives with them in their bedroom and has done so for 5 years. They were asking for help as the hen was dehydrated, has watery diarrhea and won't eat. Said by the smell of her she has a fever. She thought she had food stuck in her throat but checked and saw nothing. She was acting like she was choking one day so they held her upside down and she vomited yellow liquid and whole pieces of corn which was fed to her a week ago. I don't know very much about chickens, just the research I have done on here. They said they were force feeding her milk and bread. I asked if she has grit and this person has never heard of grit before. They said they were giving her B12 and a tiny piece of ibuprofen and a dewormer pill.

Things like this scare me. I know I still have a LOT to learn about my feathery babies but I feel like before you have a chicken you need to do as much research as possible and listen to the wonderful people on here who have been raising chickens for many many years.

There are so many things that I would never have thought of before doing more research and there are things that are dependent on opinions (clipping wings, artificial light, heat lamps, etc.) and that is ok but there are so many things that are so important for chicken health and sanity. I feel that making sure your chicken has the proper nutrition and proper social life will help your chicken live a long and healthy life.

Well said! Totally agree. Also feel bad for that other chicken

 

[chuckachucka]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pet-chicken-owners-unite.1271291/

You are going to be putting a diaper on your chicken? That does not seem like a good idea in my opinion.....

Curious, why do you think diapers are a bad idea?