What food would you recommend?

[EeyoreBlue]

Hi all

I'm after a bit of general advice, because I'm really confused (doesn't take much)!

What would you recommend to feed your chickens on? We got ours after they had been abandoned, and I don't believe they'd ever been fed a proper food as there was no evidence of it where they were. On our hunt for a house for them, we called at Durham Hens and were recommended Garvo 5033 Farmyard Mixture (Pellets, Corn & Seashells). We've fed them this and also a similar mix from our local supplier, but wondered if we would be better changing them to pellets alone with grit/shell available and feeding corn as a treat?

I have no idea what breeds they are or the age of any of them (apart from the chicks, who are about 5 weeks). Once I can get some better photographs, I will post them on here to see if any of you helpful/kind people can assist with identification!

Thanks

EeyoreBlue

 

[Lucylou]

I was advised to feed pellets at the start. Don't know the Farmyard Mixture but I've fed pellets since day 1 with grit available separately with no problems. Is there much difference costwise between a bag of layers pellets v farmyard mix?

 

[Marigold]

I would avoid a mix which includes corn as this should be fed very sparingly indeed as an occasional treat, because it's very fattening and can cause fat to build up round the hens ovaries with potentially fatal consequences. In winter its a good addition to a warm mash in the late afternoon, to help them stay warm through the 15-hour winter roosting time, but it's not necessary or desirable in summer except a very little as a treat, as I said. Garvo is a very good brand, however, I used to feed my hens with it until unfortunately my local stockist stopped having it. If you could get them Garvo layers pellets they would do well. Otherwise, any of the good quality brands would be very suitable, eg Dodson and Horrell, Smallholders, Marriages etc. Beware cheap brands which probably have all sorts of undesirable additives, though.
As they are all free range, the grit is probably unnecessary, but a pot of it in case they want the flint is worth providing, and you can get the sort with oystershell incorporated, again they will take what they need and they won't need much as the layers pellets will contain all the calcium supplements they need to make strong eggshells. Layers pellets will also have a balanced level of protein and carbohydrates, plus vitamins and minerals, to best support good laying. What they find by free ranging will supply all the greens they need. Hens do best on a simple diet, with no cooked human food high in fat, sugar or salt, (and its actually illegal to feed this sort of stuff to hens.) vegetable and fruit trimmings and peelings are OK though.

 

[Icemaiden]

I've always fed my girls Smallholder layers' pellets. I don't give them feed containing gm soya or corn, as I don't personally agree with gm, so I chose a make of pellets that's hard IP gm free. There's no mess & no waste either, when feeding pellets rather than mash.