What type of feed do you provide?

[barred2rock]

What type of feed do you provide your chickens?

 

[GC-Raptor]

They have unlimited access to Layers pellets in the coop. They also get a small amount of scratch grains or mixed bird seed scattered on the ground twice a day. I let them out to free range 2 hours before sunset daily, weather permitting. I also provide oyster shells in a separate container, and granite grit in another container.
I have 5 hens, 16 months old. GC

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I feed dry crumbles free choice.... but offer a dish of soaked crumble a few times a week as a treat. They also get kitchen scraps, and animal protein at least 2x a week. They also get out into the yard daily for anywhere from 1-6 hours

 

[Folly's place]

YES! Chickens need a balanced base diet, and then scratch is a treat. Ranging gets them varied amounts of goodies, and can't be counted on to support laying hens. Mary

 

[igorsMistress]

@peckpeckpeck you might try a suet cage to hold the greens. It seems to make it easier for my birds to nip off bite sized pieces because it holds the greens for them.

 

[TomZilla43]

I feed the girls layer crumble, give them fresh fruit and veggie treats and occasionally treat them to scratch grains mixed w/ dried mealworms.

 

[peckpeckpeck]

My girls are on Scratch n Peck grower feed. Is that considered crumble? Im new to this.

With this heat wave, I started mixing it with a little water & freezing it, & found that also helps with making sure they eat all the fines that fall to the bottom. I figure it helps cool them down and gives them another source of water.

I just learned about fermenting so trying that out in addition to their regular free choice dry.

I also just started putting out crushed egg shells free choice.

Also with this heat wave, I've been giving them treats like frozen water melon, & tossing some rose petals or meal worms into their water to encourage them to drink more. They love the roses!! Funny girls

 

[Lin Klein]

I feed dry crumbles and am starting to add in fermented crumbles. they also have a big "salad" every day with treats of meal worms, crickets, and scratch grains. The salad is a mixture of greens including dandelion greens, collard, kale, leaf lettuce, fruit, and veggies. They all come running to the gate when they see me coming with the salad bowl.

 

[dunnmom]

For those of you who have chickens that seem to turn their beaks up at raw vegetable kitchen scraps, I think I may have a solution. Mine did the same thing, until one day, someone suggested it was the size of the pieces they didn't like. I cut them smaller and smaller until it started getting dangerous for my fingers. Lol! Finally, I just gave them a whirl in my Ninja. They ate it up, no problems, no leftovers. So, you might consider putting scraps in your food processor, chopper, or blender, or whatever contraption you have. FlyWheel's post made me think to give that tip.

 

[Melodychick]

My girls are free fed dry crumbles and are free ranged all day. Scratch, BOSS, mealworms or veggies are given in the evening as an incentive to return to the coop for the night.