What does everyone feed their chickens?

[halo]

This is something Ive been wondering about. I keep reading, not to feed scratch, its only for a treat only. Well what is scratch, its grains. What is in processed feed, such as Purina or Seminole.....grains. It doesnt make any sense to me at all. So what do you all feed? What kind of grower mix, layer mix, what kinds of treats?

 

[amigos_ghettojaps]

I mainly feed Southern States Layer Pellets. I keep access to this 24/7.
When it is expected to be very cold here (Virginia) I will also toss a little cracked corn and wheat that I mix together. I mix it 3 cups to 1...with 3 cups being the wheat and 1 the cracked corn. This is their "treat" as well as used to warm them up a little before time to roost. I only throw this an hour or so before roost time.
During the summer months I tos the tree, about once every week or two, just to keep them coming to me when I call.
Todd

 

[justusnak]

Mine get Purina Layeena....free choice. On cold mornings...they get a little cracked corn...and in the evenings...when its cold, a little scratch. They also get any kitchen scraps as long as its not moldy, but no meat.

 

[Yogiman]

I feed Lone Star feeds only because I can't get Purina in my area for some unknown reason. I feed chick starter ( 21% protien, medicated), chick grower (18% protien), and laying pellets (17% protien). I know feed hen scratch as a treat only and as of today started feeding alfalfa pellets at the recommendation of MissPrissy.
I made a crucial mistake with my current flock of buff orps. I added chopped corn to their diet. They started picking feathers and eating them. What a mess that was. Problem: methionine deficiency!
Poultry feed by design is formulated to have all of the essential components to provide a balanced diet to maintain a healthy flock. It is when we deviate from this that problems such as I had occur.
Lesson learned: Stick to what is designed that is best for the flock. We sometimes like to think that we are giving them a little something extra or different when we are actually bringing harm to them unintentionally. I hope that this might have helped you better understand the feeds. Best of luck to you with your flock.

 

[MandyH]

Layer crumbles, some cracked corn when its cold out, and kitchen scraps. As long as the scraps are not rotten or moldy.

 

[Yogiman]

halo,
This link might be helpful reading in answer to your question:

http://www.poultry.uga.edu/tips/byfjan08.pdf

 

[skatcatla]

Mine get organic layer pellets (don't know the brand), as well as black sunflower seeds, fruit, yogurt, and whatever they can find in my yard (grass, plants, bugs, etc). I offer them whatever vegetable and fruit scraps I would normally put in the composter; some they like, most they don't.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

My chickies diet is... Layer pellets, scratch, grit, oyster shells. layer pellets are mixed with mix veggies and fruit

 

[Princessferf]

I give mine layer mash (its a product made at a local feed mill near my home) 24/7 and they get oyster shells free choice.

For their treats, I sometimes halve oranges, give them bread that we aren't going to finish... (like rolls that get hard, but nothing that is ever moldy!) Crackers or other grain-related items.

I gave them some crackers the other day... but there was some salt on them. What's the situation with them having salt? Good... bad... neutral?

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

for salt I say neutral. If you give them to much salt it may kill them.