What to feed in winter

[Deanna]

I am a city girl now living on a farm in my senior years. First time with chickens...26 of them...I think they are ISA Browns. I was scared of them at first but I am doing better. We are now averaging about two eggs per day. Today I found a very, very small one but not in the nesting box. Must be a beginner!!!
I feed them cukes, zucchini, weeds, lettuce, bread all according to the list on this website. They are not crazy about bananas and I think even they are tired of zucchini. My question is for this winter. I am located in Michigan and am wondering how to feed them all this good stuff when the snow and ice are here. We are seniors living only on social security so money is an issue.

 

[Imp]

Deanna,

I assume you are giving them chicken feed for layers. That's all they really need. As far as the treats scratch is inexpensive. Buy what's on sale and maybe there is a store or restaurant close by that could save you scraps.

Imp

 

[Mahlzeit]

You could go to your local grocery stores or delis and you can ask them if you can have all the produce that they throw out. My parents own an deli and instead of them throwing out the produce and breads they put them in buckets and I go pick them up and give it to the chickens. The chickens love it and it save my parents money because it doesn't go into the garbage and fill the dumpster.

 

[Deanna]

Thanks for the replies. My husband and his son have been farmers for all their lives. I am the novice. My husband's son brings the right feed for them as they progress so I am not concerned about proper nutrition just wondering if they will get bored this winter.

 

[The Chicken People]

26 chickens and only 2 eggs per day? I have 7 and I get 4 eggs per day!

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Do you have a freezer?? You could freeze all your extras--- tomatoes, corn, zukes, cukes, greens any thing you are feeding them now, in large bags and lay them out to defrost or warm them up and feed it to them!! No prep, just throw it in there..they won't care if it's mushy--- Pumpkins and winter squashes keep very well in a cool, dry place...

 

[JessHall]

Quote:
I've herd of people feeding warm oatmeal, I imagine chickens would really love that!
During winter months your chickens will need more energy to stay warm. I'd give them plenty of scratch during the winter

 

[Deanna]

When I posted two eggs per day, they had just begun giving us presents.
Yesterday we got seven!!! Hooooooray !!!!
Today so far we have five.
We have two separate age groups and we were not really sure how old they were when we got them. My husband's son brought them from the weekly area auction two separate times.
We just love a mystery.

 

[The Chicken People]

Nice seven! I am getting 5 per day and I have two of my seven girls still not laying! I plan to buy fresh lettuce, kale and such from grocery store this winter to hang in coop to help stimulate the girls! I read that somewheres! Warm oatmeal sounds good for them when it gets colder!

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Another thing you can do in the winter as for treats and extra protein...if you have an abundance of eggs, you can boil them, grate them and feed back to your chickens. They're crazy about their own boiled eggs!