Switched to organic Layer Feed which they LOVE, but....

[ReillyJ]

As i feared (it's not pelleted) they left a lot of the fine powder in the bottom, they attacked it with gusto though, clearly they love it. It's Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Layer Feed, it's local and apparently it sells very well.

They say to mix w/yogurt if powder is left at the bottom, did that and ehhh, turned their beaks up at it kind of (have 4 hens) and i don't have time to babysit hens like this but i really want them to have the best in feed.

I like that i can get it locally (Snohomish, WA) don't know what other reputable company makes a good organic pelleted food with no soy or corn....

 

[RJSorensen]

You may be able to 'wet' the mash and they will take to it. In the olden days, when mash was all we had, you were expected to add water to it, until you had a thick paste, when you feed. I suppose many new chicken owners are perhaps unaware of this… anyway collect the fines, dampen it and serve it up. It may help you with your problem with your spoiled ladies. Where they hungry in the least they would have eaten your 'special' mixture.

Give it a try, you've nothing to loose anyway,

RJ

 

[ReillyJ]

LOL, thanks!!

i did add some plain yogurt to it and good grief! Upturned beaks. The website for the feed says to add water, broth, yogurt or oatmeal, i could make up some sloppy oatmeal and do it that way or GASP chicken broth but i don't know if i could do that!

I have to laugh because my cat is name RJ for Reilly J.

 

[subhanalah]

I recommend fermenting it.
I find it easier than managing dry food.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/901514/fermented-feed-should-you-be-doing-it

 

[dancingqueen]

Yup, this is the same feed I give my girls and I ferment it as well. If you don't want to ferment a good over night soak would even be better than feeding it dry. Food will go father and much less will be wasted.

 

[ReillyJ]

Yup, this is the same feed I give my girls and I ferment it as well. If you don't want to ferment a good over night soak would even be better than feeding it dry. Food will go father and much less will be wasted.

Thank you so much for replying, been thinking about fermenting but that'll have to wait til i can wrap my brain around it and relatives leave in 2 weeks.

dancingqueen may i ask how your girls on doing on it? I'm switching them over from a bottom of the barrel co op pellet (but they get meal worms, sunflower seeds, melons, etc.) and they seem to be doing well but i am holistic (i make my cats own food) and like to have input on this food and how you feed it...

i'm free feeding the pellets right now but have read where folks just feed a.m. and p.m.... have to figure out how much of that food to soak daily for 4 hens, won't it go to waste if not eaten all in that day (being hot out)? Right now i just cooked up some watery oatmeal and am going to mix it in w/the powder that's left and see....

i really want them to enjoy good health!

Thanks

 

[subhanalah]

Thank you so much for replying, been thinking about fermenting but that'll have to wait til i can wrap my brain around it and relatives leave in 2 weeks. 

dancingqueen may i ask how your girls on doing on it? I'm switching them over from a bottom of the barrel co op pellet (but they get meal worms, sunflower seeds, melons, etc.) and they seem to be doing well but i am holistic (i make my cats own food) and like to have input on this food and how you feed it... 

i'm free feeding the pellets right now but have read where folks just feed a.m. and p.m.... have to figure out how much of that food to soak daily for 4 hens, won't it go to waste if not eaten all in that day (being hot out)? Right now i just cooked up some watery oatmeal and am going to mix it in w/the powder that's left and see....

i really want them to enjoy good health! 

Thanks

the fermentation process preserves the food, even if it's left out all day, unless it gets above the fermenting temperatures (can't remember off the top of my head).

If you were just wetting the mash and putting it out (not fermenting it) within 30 minutes, bacteria begins growing and by 4 hours, it should be removed and discarded (not fed back to the chickens, at this point it should be considered "spoiled").

 

[ReillyJ]

the fermentation process preserves the food, even if it's left out all day, unless it gets above the fermenting temperatures (can't remember off the top of my head).

If you were just wetting the mash and putting it out (not fermenting it) within 30 minutes, bacteria begins growing and by 4 hours, it should be removed and discarded (not fed back to the chickens, at this point it should be considered "spoiled").

Thanks, i SO much appreciate it, i should have known this.... i'm glad you told me. I am reading the link right now that you provided and i'm very happy for it in that i cannot have things complicated!

My hope is that they like it.. (i suppose i can just get tough and tell them that's what they're getting--and they won't starve i guess, i don't know, i've never had chickens before) and i am able to quickly figure out how much they need a day.... do chickens only need to get fed twice a day? And maybe roughly up to a cup per hen twice a day?
At least this gives me a guideline if this is correct. Hopefully i will figure it out soon enough not to end up throwing away left over ff

 

[subhanalah]

That's the beauty of FF, whatever is left over, you can scoop out on the ground for them to pick up or put it back in the bucket and stir. FF is a fantastic feed waste solution!

 

[dancingqueen]

I scoop out feed into bowls for my girls in the am and pm, whatever they don't eat (which isn't often) is just left in the bowl for later consumption.

As for the feed, my girls love their Scratch and Peck. We ran out and for a month I used Organic crumbles and tried to ferment and they disliked it so I ended up feeding it only dry. I do use a organic soy free feed from Modesto Mills out in a feeder for my girls during the day in their run when they aren't ranging in the yard. Best of luck!