What mix do you give your hens

MOC1972

As above with the pellets they dont lay as much when we added some grain they have improved whats your mix

mountainy man

My girls and boy get layers pellets in the morning when I let them out and some wild bird seed about an hour before they go to bed, they go mental for the sunflower seed in it btw. Its remarkable how much grass and green stuff they eat.

Askim

My 3 get pellets in morning too and any grain i buy in the evening, have a pig mix meal, wheat, barley soya etc & vitamins, am going to ask vet if vitamin levels are ok for layers & fattening

moonshadow

Half and half pellets and layers mash once in the morning and let them out for a rummage in the evening,works very well so far.

MOC1972

We find they are better of picking in the feild and about the place getting some green they are full time hunting for worms in cow dung only problem with them outside is the dog thinks they are her new toys.
Oh and watch out for Mr Mink.

johngalway

MOC1972 wrote: »

Oh and watch out for Mr Mink.

Mink are easy caught. Reckon there should be a trap set permanently around the place if you think you're in a high risk area. Though it'd need to be checked at least once a day.

MOC1972

I had a trap set but all I got was a semi feral cat that keeps the rats away:rolleyes:

Askim

MOC1972 wrote: »

I had a trap set but all I got was a semi feral cat that keeps the rats away:rolleyes:

Make the entry hole to the trap smaller, 2' of 4" wavin pipe should keep a cat out, or use a live catch trap, any gun club member should be able to dispatch one for you.

A

johngalway

MOC1972 wrote: »

I had a trap set but all I got was a semi feral cat that keeps the rats away:rolleyes:

:pac:

If you use a live catch trap, all you need over the open "door" space is some 2"x2" weldmesh, that'll keep any cat out and let minky in no problem

MOC1972

Its a live catch trap I have I will make the opening smaller the cat some how turned around in the trap which is small I check it twice a day.
The mink has killed some hens over the road so its good to have some traps set otherwise they will kill all around them.:(

CJhaughey

I give them organic layers pellets and in the afternoon a cupful of super mixed corn from allen and page.
The mixed corn has oyster shell as well as peas and corn, they really seem to like it.

whelan1

ours get layers pellets and mixed corn , also are going around the yard so get a fair bit there aswell, they also get any left overs from the house like bread etc

Chicken Run

layers pellets, scoop of feed wheat towards the end of the day, whatever they can scavenge whilst ranging and any suitable food scraps.

Ours are starting to moult at the moment so egg production's way down...

arctictree

Layers pellets and any left over bread from the kitchen.

They also free range around and to be honest eat very little of the pellets even though it is freely available in their house. Stopped laying last week so no eggs now until the springtime.

BTW, great to have the forum up and going...

genie

Layers pellets and some porridge when the weather is miserable. They also free range in a paddock and eat a lot of grass and love dock leaves for some reason!

darrcow

my birds get layers mash with kitchen scraps and vegetable waste from the garden. they are left to roam free all day so they eat natural stuff like worms etc. in the winter when cold i give the rolled oats mixed with hot water to warm them up.

Ding Dong

mine are on layers pellets but also eat any dropped wheat from the ducks self-feeding hopper. also get old bread and kitchen waste but they have full access to the garden all day. flaked maize during winter for extra warmth. looking at the replies, it seems we all spoil our hens etc a bit. But sure, what harm...:rolleyes:

MOC1972

Nice to see the forum going well.
Thanks for all the feed back its good to hear what you guys are feeding.
Our hens are doing a good job we all like the eggs in our house and the
taste is much better than the shop eggs:D

lanod2407

MOC1972 wrote: »

I had a trap set but all I got was a semi feral cat that keeps the rats away:rolleyes:

What's a SEMI feral cat? One that rips half your face off????

Rockery Woman

Mine get layers pellets, oats (whole) and rolled barley. I know a few people who feed them boiled spuds and flaked maize. Might try the maize mixed with the oats,pellets and barley.

They also get vegetable peels and they love eating grass.

frankie2shoes

My god! you guys really love yer chickens!!!
my 3 get layers pellets once a day and that's it.
i do however have a solar panel on their roof which supplies light during the winter. by fooling them into thinking there is still daylight they continue to lay two eggs a day (one has never given me more than a tiny egg with no yoke-clearly for the chop). they don't have the run of the yard either due to our overprotective dog but then at least I don't have to worry about foxes.

No6

Mine get layers pellets and rolled barley every morning, they free range most days and when they are out they will often ignore their own food and go and steal the ducks (which is the same!!!:D) My chickens make like they peck the head of my dogs when they go near them, they are hilarious.

Prowetod

frankie2shoes wrote: »

My god! you guys really love yer chickens!!!
my 3 get layers pellets once a day and that's it.
i do however have a solar panel on their roof which supplies light during the winter. by fooling them into thinking there is still daylight they continue to lay two eggs a day (one has never given me more than a tiny egg with no yoke-clearly for the chop). they don't have the run of the yard either due to our overprotective dog but then at least I don't have to worry about foxes.

I have been considering putting a pv solar panel on the coop.... Any advice? What size panel are you using? Is it basically keeping the battery that powers the light charged?

lanod2407

I've only got 5 gens, getting 2 or 3 eggs a day - which is good right now IMO

One egg is very fragile - any advice on what I need to add to their food? Is there something missing?

Also they started eating eggs recently - bad news. Any ideas how to stop that bad habit??

Askim

lanod2407 wrote: »

I've only got 5 gens, getting 2 or 3 eggs a day - which is good right now IMO

One egg is very fragile - any advice on what I need to add to their food? Is there something missing?

Also they started eating eggs recently - bad news. Any ideas how to stop that bad habit??

they are lacking calcium, get some oyster shell & they should be fine, try pet food shop, or poultry supplier,as co-op's usually have 25Kg bags, if you can't get any let me know.

A

Boardnashea

I usually keep my egg shells after use and and when I have a baking tray full (I use an old bisuit tin) give them 20 mins in a hot oven. Then crush them small and give them back to the birds.
If you're near the coast you may be able to find oyster shell and break them yourself.

frankie2shoes

this is similar to what i got:
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Solar-Powered-New-Outdoor-LED-Shed-Light-Flood-Panel-/190447679984?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item2c5790f9f0
seemed to be pretty effective but i reckon there's better lights out there for similar money
the chickens only need a bit of light to fool them
i don't even bake the egg shells just crush 'em up and feed them back to the girls. seems to do the trick

LuckyPenny

Do you know what you are paying for layers pellets ?
Prices vary a lot from place to place. Is there a difference in the contents ?