Topic of the Week - Feeding Chickens in Winter

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I add more protein dense treats to their afternoon mash snack. BOSS, meat bits, bugs. I make their mash with warm liquids too.

same. probably learned it from you couple years back, lol

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Extra protein (lots of different options). as well as a higher protein feed during CT winters. If the hens are standing like statues in the early AM, I add warm water and extra protein to their feed for the AM and 2 more times that day if necessary. broccoli, kale, cabbage, cucumber, spinach and lettuce are offered often throughout the winter to replace foraging. I also sprout wheatgrass in ball jars. Thats a must- they go nuts for it. Good luck winter chickens!!

 

[Sara H.]

I switch from corn-free feed to regular feed with corn, as I've heard that digesting corn makes chickens warmer. I also make more feed available and try to provide warm goodies like pumpkin or oatmeal on really cold days.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I switch from corn-free feed to regular feed with corn, as I've heard that digesting corn makes chickens warmer. I also make more feed available and try to provide warm goodies like pumpkin or oatmeal on really cold days.

I switched to a feed with corn as well. 18% protein seems ok for the 7 hens.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Today i picked up a bucket of brewers mash from a local brewery. I offered a bunch to the hens for the first time. They seemed to really enjoy it. Are there any considerations or tid bits of information I should be mindful of? It was offered and I hastily accepted. Thanks in advance.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Today i picked up a bucket of brewers mash from a local brewery. I offered a bunch to the hens for the first time. They seemed to really enjoy it. Are there any considerations or tid bits of information I should be mindful of? It was offered and I hastily accepted. Thanks in advance.

Yes, it molds very easily due to the moisture content, and its nutritional value is essentially unknowable.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Yes, it molds very easily due to the moisture content, and its nutritional value is essentially unknowable.

Thank You U_Storm, I value your opinion. The cold weather allows for optimal storage outdoors. figured through the winter its wouldnt hurt to toss a handful or 2 every now and again. What do you think?

 

[MichaelDJ]

Yes, it molds very easily due to the moisture content, and its nutritional value is essentially unknowable.

I feed brewers mash every day. I mix it in with my fermented whole grains. Because the nutrition and can very widely and is unknown, It comprises about 5 or 6 percent of their feed.
Like Stormcrow said it molds very quickly, only takes a day or two. In order to get around the mold problem I run it through my Harvest Right. It freeze dries very quickly and I store it in 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I feed brewers mash every day. I mix it in with my fermented whole grains. Because the nutrition and can very widely and is unknown, It comprises about 5 or 6 percent of their feed.
Like Stormcrow said it molds very quickly, only takes a day or two. In order to get around the mold problem I run it through my Harvest Right. It freeze dries very quickly and I store it in 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids.

^ exactly this.

I will add only that, if you have a regular source of these from a brewery that produces only one product, it might be worth getting it tested so you have some idea of what its general nutritional profile is.

If you are just getting it from the local homebrew club, then yes, so variable that considering it a "treat" is the safest course.

 

[Apis mellifera]

While the food mentioned for chickens is all good, it won't do much to keep your chickens warm. Easily digestible fat and calories like suet is a great energy source for chickens during extreme cold.

Happy suet eaters.