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[Anna Ranieri]

I'm hoping for some advice please? I have always fed my chickens ( and ducks) on what is advised is best for them - chick crumb as babies, then growers and now layer pellets, however they dont seem so keen on the layer pellets and one of my girls refuses to eat it at all and will only eat the duck food. I give them fresh vegatables everyday in abundance and on a lesser scale fruit but still everyday. They have oyster shells available 24/7 and also grit mix. I also have scratch mix out for them everyday and keep treats like mealworms to a minimum although they have those everyday too. As they free range in my garden they can eat what they want when they want and all I've listed above (apart from the treats) is available to them constantly. They also have food and water in their coops which the others eat but as far as i can tell the one chicken won't and will tuck into the duck food whenever she can.
My concern is more for the one who wont eat the chicken food as I don't know if the duck food is nutritional enough for her and what she needs. I use a duck maintenance food, and if anyone is able to tell me if she will Be ok to eat it, I'd much appreciate it. Also I wonder if anyone knows if there is a chicken maintenance food or some other chicken food i can try her with which will still give her all the nutrients she needs? Any and all advice will be much appreciated.

 

[CCUK]

Could you put them all on layer pellets? I think ducks can eat layer feed OK so long as they get the fresh greens. The best thing would be purina all flock but I don't think we get it over here. @WVduckchick?

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Could you put them all on layer pellets? I think ducks can eat layer feed OK so long as they get the fresh greens. The best thing would be purina all flock but I don't think we get it over here. @WVduckchick?

Unfortunately I am unable to put them all on layers as I have two drakes and layers is known to give them liver and kidney damage, I believe thus is largely to do with the calcium in layers. I feed them duck maintenance because it's safe for drakes and hens alike and the females get their needed calcium by eating the oyster shells same as chickens do. I know the US have a chicken maintenance food suitable for all chickens but ive not been able to find it here so far.

 

[MedicDog]

Hope everyone's 2019 is going okay so far! Im buying the wood on Friday for the run extension, been sneaking in brackets and packs of screws into the house so the wife doesn't know I've got plans for her this weekend.

Also trying to source an incubator for some Vorwerk chicks for my dad's birthday in March but none of these eBay sellers know how to make a decent counter offer, 99p isn't a major saving! I've got one of those non automatic £15 six egg ones but it sounds like a plane taking off so I'll slap a fiver on it online tonight and hopefully someone takes it.

 

[Mummymia]

Hi, we are from Liverpool x

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi, we are from Liverpool x

Welcome to the thread!

 

[PouleChick]

I'm hoping for some advice please?

I'm not really sure about the duck food but I know here in France at the agricultural shops where I get my feed they have various mixed flock foods suitable for all bir

Hope everyone's 2019 is going okay so far! Im buying the wood on Friday for the run extension, been sneaking in brackets and packs of screws into the house so the wife doesn't know I've got plans for her this weeken

Thank you - you too! how exciting - i really need to do the same but can't get my head around starting and dh so busy working on our barn conversion! Please post some pics fo your progress!

Hi, we are from Liverpool x

Hi and welcome to our chatty thread! What birds have you got?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hope everyone's 2019 is going okay so far! Im buying the wood on Friday for the run extension, been sneaking in brackets and packs of screws into the house so the wife doesn't know I've got plans for her this weekend.

Also trying to source an incubator for some Vorwerk chicks for my dad's birthday in March but none of these eBay sellers know how to make a decent counter offer, 99p isn't a major saving! I've got one of those non automatic £15 six egg ones but it sounds like a plane taking off so I'll slap a fiver on it online tonight and hopefully someone takes it.

I know you may not want to but paying that bit more really does pay dividends with incubator’s. I can certainly recommend here ~ https://www.theincubatorshop.co.uk/

 

[CCUK]

Hope everyone's 2019 is going okay so far! Im buying the wood on Friday for the run extension, been sneaking in brackets and packs of screws into the house so the wife doesn't know I've got plans for her this weekend.

Also trying to source an incubator for some Vorwerk chicks for my dad's birthday in March but none of these eBay sellers know how to make a decent counter offer, 99p isn't a major saving! I've got one of those non automatic £15 six egg ones but it sounds like a plane taking off so I'll slap a fiver on it online tonight and hopefully someone takes it.

Good look with the extension I'm sure your chickies will love you for it! I got a cheap incubator of ebay. I wish I hadn't bothered. I spent two hatches constantly checking and adjusting the setting. It was a load of rubbish. I want a brinsea but I'm still trying to persuade the wifey it will be worth the money!!

Hi, we are from Liverpool x

Hi and welcome to the thread! @Casso is also from Liverpool.

 

[Mummymia]

I'm not really sure about the duck food but I know here in France at the agricultural shops where I get my feed they have various mixed flock foods suitable for all bir

Thank you - you too! how exciting - i really need to do the same but can't get my head around starting and dh so busy working on our barn conversion! Please post some pics fo your progress!

Hi and welcome to our chatty thread! What birds have you got?

ATM I have 7 lady/boy chicks! of undecided breed and one lovely long term hen called Ada on holiday! x