what is laying mash and do hens really need it?

[Goldfeathers]

To Just Hatched: I have never given my free range chickens any oyster shell or grit. They free range everyday at their leisure and we feed them scraps. They do tend to get in my compost bin as well. A friend of mine that also has free range chickens agrees. They pick & peck all day long so they will get enough grit on their own. Don't panic. I read a lot & asked a lot of questions. Trust your own instincts. It really isn't rocket science. People have been keeping chickens for many, many years & I'm sure not everyone had access to oyster shell!!

 

[immel]

We can't free range ours because of the coyote's. Also the eagles will get them as they did get 5 of our cats. But they are in a huge caged area on top of grass and the area is covered by bird netting. But for food I feed the chickens, cooked rice and cooked and raw oatmeal. Along with alfalfa sprouts and bean sprouts (that I sprout myself). They get other veggies too..... but somehow I feel I should go back to feeding crumbles. We are trying to stay away from the commercial foods. We want to grow the chicken food. But what I feed them ... not sure if that's the best. They have put on weight, which is good. I could hardly pick up one of them when I was trying to steal her eggs.

 

[Lindie]

So my chikens are not laying enough eggs so my dad wants to butcher them but I love them so much so part of the reason he wants to butcher them is because laying mesh cost so much so my question is do hens need laying messh to live as none egg laying chikens.

 

[demonic]

So my chikens are not laying enough eggs so my dad wants to butcher them but I love them so much so part of the reason he wants to butcher them is because laying mesh cost so much so my question is do hens need laying messh to live as none egg laying chikens.

How old are the hens and what breeds are they?