What and how do you feed your chickens?

[KingR0o5t3r]

Should I not be feeding my chickens only scratch? I usually give them layer pellets and some scratch, but they aren't laying as it is winter, and layer pellets cost more than scratch, so why waste my money if they aren't laying anyway? is just scratch enough till spring?

 

[barkinghills]

Hi,

Scratch is not a complete or adequate diet. It is really lacking in protein and nutrients. If they are not laying you should feed them grower, non-medicated started or something like Flock Raiser, All Flock or All-Purpose Poultry.

Surprised to hear you can only buy corn...is there not a feed store available to you? They should carry some of the above items.

 

[citychickx6]

I too am surprised that only corn is available.
I feed mine a 20% layer pellet to help with the molting and some feather eating that was going on.
I give scratch a couple times a week and only about 1/4 cup per hen. Mine get kitchen scraps and some cooked oatmeal with extras in it on Sundays.
I was out of oatmeal yesterday.
Today they got cooked white rice with chopped apples in it (no apple seeds).
From the kitchen they also get
Meat scraps cut into tiny pieces so long as it is not loaded in spices
Fruit scraps no seeds unless it is a melon
Cheerios (plain only)
yogurt (plain only)
Crushed egg shells mixed in the oatmeal
Craisins
grapes
veggies that are left over
corn on the cob hung in the run for something to do
grass clippings when I mow the back yard (I do not allow weed killer or pesticides there)

They have access to the layer feed 24/7 and the treats are given in the afternoon unless it is Sunday.
ALL treats are fed in moderation in order not to dilute the protein in the feed.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Should I not be feeding my chickens only scratch? I usually give them layer pellets and some scratch, but they aren't laying as it is winter, and layer pellets cost more than scratch, so why waste my money if they aren't laying anyway? is just scratch enough till spring?

Likely it's lack of lighting why your girls aren't laying much. That or they or in molt which can last 3 months of low production. Either way, protein is important so don't feed them only scratch. Scratch is just a treat. Try using a CFL on a timer, have it turn on a few hours before sunrise and again for hour after sunset providing 12 hours total lighting. It will do two things, one keeps them awake to eat and drink more and also provide adequate light for them to produce vitamin D.

 

[KingR0o5t3r]

I'm going to get some flock raiser I guess

 

[KingR0o5t3r]

I'm going to get some flock raiser I guess

 

[Chris09]

I feed the grownups Flock Raiser crumbles and rolled oat groats to chicks and adults as my main feed, about half and half. They absolutely love the oats and high in protein. I also throw a scratch called 3 grain which I mix with a variety of dried grains, dry rice, dry bulgar wheat, black oil sunflower seeds, etc. They love fresh kale, chard, and cabbage. For my chicks I am beginning to question the use of medicated feed and I think I am going to go to non medicated. I am thinking it is killing the good bacteria along with the bad and not helping them develope immunities. I am thinking we overuse antibiotics. I am having an upper respiratory infection going thru the flock now and I don't see that the medicated chick feed did anything to stop it.

What is the active ingredient of the medicated feed your using?

Most of the medicated feed out there only treats for cocci.

Chris

 

[farm-gal91]

It's not that I have no feed stores, we have one which is the co-op and they are usually pretty good about carrying items but lately it's very hard to get anything (probably weather related). Cracked corn is fine for now ( my grandparents and great grandparents never had layer or anything- just corn and their chickens were happy and healthy and thrived for tears and years) yes it does lack nutrients but they can live off of it and their foraging. I live in East Tennessee and things up here arnt easy to come by but all I can say is thank The Lord for online ordering! That's the way I get feed now and it's not cheap!
I wonder if I can "make" a feed

 

[Mehjr10]

Here is a list of TSC Locations, Maybe one is close to you.

TENNESSEE

ARLINGTON, ASHLAND CITY, ATHENS, BOLIVAR, CARTHAGE, CLARKSVILLE, CLEVELAND, COLLIERVILLE, COLUMBIA, COOKEVILLE, COVINGTON, CROSSVILLE, DAYTON, DICKSON, DUNLAP, DYERSBURG, ELIZABETHTON, FAIRVIEW, FAYETTEVILLE, FRANKLIN, GALLATIN, GREENEVILLE, HENDERSONVILLE, HOHENWALD, HUNTINGDON, JACKSON, JAMESTOWN, JEFFERSON CITY, JOHNSON CITY, JONESBOROUGH, KIMBALL, KINGSPORT, KNOXVILLE, LAFAYETTE, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LENOIR CITY, LEWISBURG, LEXINGTON, MARYVILLE, MC MINNVILLE, MILLINGTON, MORRISTOWN, MURFREESBORO, MURFREESBORO EAST, NEWPORT, OAK RIDGE, OLD HICKORY, OOLTEWAH, PARIS, PULASKI, ROCKWOOD, SAVANNAH, SEVIERVILLE, SHELBYVILLE, SMITHVILLE, SMYRNA, SODDY DAISY, SOMERVILLE, SPRINGFIELD, THOMPSON STATION, TRIUNE, TULLAHOMA, UNION CITY, WINCHESTER

 

[farm-gal91]

Yes I have checked. The closest one has cracked corn and chick feed..just as good as the co-op. traveling 2 1/2 hours out of mountains is just not permittable right now. Sometimes I do miss the city life.