Layers Pellets?

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Thresherhens

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As many will know i'm new to chicken keeping and concerned that my 3 Pekins are not eating enough! I give them layers pellets 'Fancy Feed' layers but i've had the bantams over a month now and still got at least half a 5kg bag full. They don't seem to eat a lot of it but go mental for mixed corn, dried bugs and my garden plants and constantly scratching in the garden or following me for food!!! Are they being picky or are do they not need a lot of food?? Thanks
 
hi,

its important that layers pellets are the majority of their diet to keep them healthy especially with egg laying breeds that lay alot. mixed corn should only be given as an afternoon treat as they wont touch the pellets if they have corn instead.
as long as they have layers pellets available from when they wake up till bed time they will be fine and will manage the amount of food they want themselves.
i always find when the spring comes and the grass starts to grow they eat less pellets as they are finding more bugs etc in the paddock.
 
Have you tried your girls on layers meal? I find my girls eat the meal then move onto the pellets in the afternoon. I would not give your girls too much mixed corn, just a handfull in the afternoon as a little treat.
 
i have 23 birds and i dont buy corn. all i buy is layers pellets and they free range and they are all well. i very rarely buy corn in the winter if its cold but its not often.
 
thank you for advice. i have restricted their mixed corn intake. i think i am just paranoid, i worry about them all the time. need to calm down!!!
 
I know exactly what you mean by saying you worry about them all the time!! I've had my 6 hens for 5 weeks and I worry about them all the time as well. I check on them all the time, check their food, water, bedding everything!!! It's beginning to drive me mad, but I can't stop it!
 
Most layers pellets contain additives that force the birds into higher egg production,that and the fact that they contain to much calcium for bantams or any bird other than hybrid layers, which will build up in the birds liver and kidneys and in some cases kill them.

Chickens eat grain, grass/greens and bugs.They have been doing this for a number of years quite successfully before pellets had been invented (for the commercial poultry farms) and in many areas in the world still are.

You very rarely get any problems feeding a grain diet, no dirty bums and the only thing you need to do is give them a supply of mixed grit to help the gizzard break down the grain feed.

Have a look at my web site under feeding and dump the pelleted feed in the bin.

www.castlefarmeggs.co.uk
 
Hi Castle Farm Eggs - Had a look at your feeding page and found it interesting reading (Great website by the way!) May I ask what you feed your birds while they are in breeding pens and unable to free range freely?

Our breeding groups are kept in large pens (Ideally they'd be free range but we lost a lot to foxes even in the daytime) At the moment our birds are fed layers pellets but they are becoming more and more expensive to buy so I'd be interested to hear what you feed yours when they are more restricted in range?
 
Most poultry keepers will tell you that breeding birds need 15% protien and above. You soon notice the birds that require a boost, as they cannot lay and keep thier feathers, one or the other has to drop.

I give them as much green feed as they need (lawn mowings and spinich,Comfry ect) and dried field peas soaked over night if no greens are available. You need to get the birds really fit before you pen them and I use stud penning.that allows the hens out free range.
If your looking to condition your birds use milk or boiled eggs, both are high in protien and without added chemicals.
 
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