What type of feed do you provide?

[PouleNoire]

Mine get Layena crumbles free choice 24/7, and pasture grass access 24/7 as well. They also get a scoop of scratch in the mornings and the occasional treat!

 

[Folly's place]

I feed Flock Raiser free choice, and my flock ranges most days on pasture, grass, and under trees. They get some scratch, not daily, and occasional fruit and veggies, and oyster shell on the side. Mary

 

[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

 

[centralcaligirl]

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

Scratch and Peck grower is a dry whole grain feed. I use it too and I love it. It ferments very nicely also.

 

[Stuckinlove]

I have been feeding mine scratch grain however they are free range all day. So just picked up some dry crumbles to mix with scratch grain. Should I just be giving the scratch grain as a treat and have them eat the dry crumbles and whatever they forage for? They have 12 acres to range on.

 

[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

 

[GardenTillers44]

We range them all day on a fenced acre with unlimited access to layer crumbles. We give them a daily tray of whatever fruits, berries, veggies and herbs the gardens are providing along with a few mealworms. In the winter we supplement with sprouted oats, lentils and wheat berries to make up for the lack of available greens in pasture. They love our kitchen scraps such as melon rinds, leftover salad preps and scaled fish skins. We do a lot of canning and juicing, and the leftover veggie and fruit pulp mixed with oatmeal is a relished treat. We give the girls the treats in the afternoon so they have time to range early and can load up on crumbles late before roosting.

 

[Stuckinlove]

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

Thank you so much! I was backwards at least now the feed bill will be cheaper!

 

[Dawnclucks22]

We give ours lay mash which includes oyster shells.

 

[Nupe]

I feed Rooster Booster from my local feed store. It's a 20% protein pellet and oyster shell is always available. I didn't go with layer because I have 2 boys and often there are non-laying pullets in the flock. They get to forage the yard most days and get a handful of scratch in the evening.