what to feed and not to feed your chickens

[AshShoun]

so i had posted on a facebook group that i was having an issue with my hens laying consisitantly. i then had a man (i dont know but is apart of this chicken group) tell me that he had a secret way to get his hens to lay and would tell me as long as i didnt tell alot of people (first red flag) because he didnt want everyone knowing.
he then told me that i should give them Hot Rotel every other day until 3 servings has been given. soo my question is...can they even eat rotel? or is this guy just giving me things to do to harm my chickens?

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. I seriously doubt rotel will make your birds lay. Chickens don't sense the spiciness of things like humans do so it wouldn't hurt them, but I'd be concerned with sodium content in that stuff.

Too many treats, not enough calcium, hot weather, etc can slow down production. So can age, pests and diseases. If you limit treats to about 1 tablespoon per bird per day you're giving them the nutrition they need and not diluting it with junk.

 

[Bear1978]

Hot rotel? As to induce a bad case of the chicken dookies? In hope that a by-product of the increased chicken turds would cause an increase in egg production by the constant straining to rid their bodies of the hot rotel? As if chickens don’t pinch off butt nuggets enough as it is!!

 

[AshShoun]

Hot rotel? As to induce a bad case of the chicken dookies? In hope that a by-product of the increased chicken turds would cause an increase in egg production by the constant straining to rid their bodies of the hot rotel? As if chickens don’t pinch off butt nuggets enough as it is!!

see thats why i was like uhhhh idk about that lol!

 

[AshShoun]

Hi there. I seriously doubt rotel will make your birds lay. Chickens don't sense the spiciness of things like humans do so it wouldn't hurt them, but I'd be concerned with sodium content in that stuff.

Too many treats, not enough calcium, hot weather, etc can slow down production. So can age, pests and diseases. If you limit treats to about 1 tablespoon per bird per day you're giving them the nutrition they need and not diluting it with junk.

yeah i just was concerned that maybe it would hurt them but it has been pretty hot so im hoping thats the issue, i dont normally give them treats just every now and then i do give them fresh cut up veggies

 

[Bear1978]

Yeah. I wouldn’t. I mean I had some frozen burritos last night for supper and those are STILL knocking around down there this morning! I could only imagine what the spices would do to a chicken’s stomach!

 

[igorsMistress]

yeah i just was concerned that maybe it would hurt them but it has been pretty hot so im hoping thats the issue, i dont normally give them treats just every now and then i do give them fresh cut up veggies

It's likely the heat then, it has been brutal all over this year! If there are no other concerns then I suspect they'll pick up a bit when it cools off. I have girls that'll skip a day or two here and there also.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My secret to up egg production when hot weather slows it down. Not really a secret, I've told many times what I do.
I cut my daily scratch grain treats in half.
I give them wet mash, made with their regular feed early afternoon.
An eighth cup dry feed per chicken. I cover with a 1/4" to a 1/2" of cold water. During heat waves I use water from the fridge and serve immediately in a shady spot. It works best with crumbles. But pellets work too. .

. I let my hens free range an hour before sunset daily, plenty of greens to eat. GC