What do chickens need?

[Myles]

Quote:
Cooked too.

 

[1muttsfan]

Ridgerunner, that was probably the best-written, clearest lesson on basic chicken nutrition I have seen - it should be a sticky note. I agree with eventing you said. Well done.

 

[Jayers]

Ridgerunner, please be sure that you include the following important necessities in your sticky note diet:

Big Eye Tuna with Barron Point Oyster & Parsley

King Salmon with Cucumber Blossom Kimchi, Lemon Balm & Thai Long Pepper

48-Hour Braised Veal Breast with Curried Eggplant, Arugula & Wild Capers

Alaskan Licorice, Toasted Pistachio & Heirloom Beets

Duet of Lamb Loin and Shoulder with Chickpea Purée, Kalamata Olive & Parsley

Prickly Pear Sorbet with Nopales & Campari Jelly

Roasted Banana Gelato with Pandan Leaf & Chorizo

Chocolate Brioche with Reduced Maple Ice Cream & Caramelized Popcorn

 

[1muttsfan]

you forgot live mice (mine love them if they can catch them)

 

[roadrunnerred]

wow, lots to learn. Ridgerunner, thanks, I like 7L farms thinking also. Live MICE, really?

 

[Myles]

Quote:
Yeah, be careful what you wish for. You really don't want mice.

 

[Gargoyle]

Quote:
And cappuccino. Chickens need their cappuccino.

 

[MsPony]

I completely disagree with pre-bagged feeding method.

If you have ever actually studied or watch chickens, they are browser/grazer animals. My month old chicks refused to stay in their box at 2 weeks old and instead grazed around my house all day long instead. Pecking at everything, including roosting on my 90# lab and pecking anything off him (he's a saint.)

My outdoor hens have complete free range, I do offer then organic, soy free pellets, but a 50# bag lasts me...6 months? 8 months? They only touched it in the middle of winter.

Otherwise my hens eat what's in the yard, scraps, and a seed mix I spraay around. They are 100% healthy, healthy weight, no health issues at all. And so happy, they are doing what chickens should do.

 

[1muttsfan]

MSpony, that probably works great where you live, but here it is common to look in the back yard and see fox - coyote - bobcat - stray dogs - eagles and hawks. My chickens free range only under direct supervision, and when I am at work they stay in their pen. They get free range as a treat and regular chicken feed the rest of the time, and are happy, healthy (and alive) and lay lots of great eggs.

And yes, they think mice and frogs are just really big bugs (uck)

 

[MsPony]

I see what you mean

I'm battling hawks, one of which must have been with humans at some point since he sits next to me and watches the chicks.

Let's say you have a 100x100 (foot) pen, you can still mix and throw out a seed mix, provide chicken "toys" not just for mental activity, but for physical. You can tractor around a lawn. Another member chicken wires off an area & grows some different stuff, the chooks eat the "excess" as opposed to the whole plant. You can suspend plants as well from the top, to help bring in bugs.

I think my point is, they need a variety, not just one thing. If your chickens are getting fat, its lack of exercise (which my lab puppy can help yall out there if you want, lol.)