What To Put In A Feeder?

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woodruffsdad

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I have just treated my hens to a new Wise Mountable Feeder.

Is it O.K. to mix layers pellets and mixed corn together in such a feeder to save my having to have two feeders?
 
I never usually mix corn with pellets as the birds will just sift through the pellets to eat the corn and at this time of year there is no need to be giving them corn, feeding them pellets and hanging assorted greens for them to peck at would be a better option.
 
dinosaw said:
I never usually mix corn with pellets as the birds will just sift through the pellets to eat the corn and at this time of year there is no need to be giving them corn, feeding them pellets and hanging assorted greens for them to peck at would be a better option.
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Why not corn "at this time of year" and what is so good about layers pellets?

This is a genuine question on a topic I'm not at all clear about!
 
Suppose 'corn' needs to be defined Woodruffsdad. Mixed corn, or mixed cereal grains, contains wheat mainly which is low protein slow release carbohydrate best given as a late treat in Winter, when they are not laying so don't need protein so much but need energy during the long cold nights. Maize, or sweetcorn, contains a lot of fat and should be limited, or cut out completely, in Summer as fat birds don't lay. Layers pellets, if they are of good quality, will contain everything they really need, but the addition of fresh veg or fruit gives extra vitamins and acts as a healthy treat. Dinosaw is absolutely correct. They will also dig the corn out and you will waste a lot of feed if put in one feeder -a discovery I made with a bad throw of mixed corn into the run.

Having said that I give a very light ground scattering of mixed corn late on anyway, just to give them a treat. Bit of a softy me, but I like to see them happy. All the cockerels make foody noises and the hens run to them which reinforces their leading role. In Winter it is a heavy scattering.
 
Chris has already answered while I was typing and given a good answer but I will post this anyway. On layers pellets, they are a complete feed for laying hens by which I mean that they contain all the base nutrients needed for your hens to produce eggs and obtain their nutritional needs, you could happily feed nothing but layers pellets and your chickens would remain healthy and continue to lay. On corn, the first thing to note is that too much corn makes chickens fat, which is of course bad for them and also means that egg production drops off markedly, sometimes to zero. People feed their hens small amounts of corn mainly as a treat and also in winter before bedtime as the process of digesting it keeps them warm overnight, which is why I said there is no reason to be feeding it at this time of year. Greens are important I think psychologically for the chickens, who love them, and hanging them can give them something to occupy them especially in smaller setups, they also give a darker yolk and some studies have suggested improve the vitamin content in eggs.
 
I have always given small amounts of corn a couple of times a week Chris for the same reasons as you but I always prefer to say not to feed it at all given what I have seen some people class as a small amount.
 
Mixed corn in moderation (never more than a small egg cupful per hen per day, and less in summer) is very good for training them to come to you, and to follow you about, which is a good party trick to amuse visitors and children, and handy if you want to get them back in the run when they've been outside. Just put it in a plastic box and shake it, they will soon learn the sound and come scrambling to you as fast as they can, and then you can either feed from your hand or sprinkle a little on the ground so everyone has a chance to get a share. Itsvery useful to have them tame enough to come to you, when you need to catch them to examine them for mites etc, or when they need their nails clipped. I don't cuddle my hens, but I can catch them without too much fuss.
 
I agree with what you say Dinosaw. I give a thimble full in Summer and an egg cup full in Winter. But they get it every day and when they get worming shots they get a treat immediately afterwards to mix it up and make them forget about it -and they do.

As Mariold says, mixed corn is a great trainer. Good shake of the scoop and they all come running.
 
valeriebutterley said:
Running.............? at the sound of a shaken corn container, mine come flying!
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Ha ha, it's a sight guaranteed to cheer you up, a bunch of excited chickens flying towards you, I'm already missing mine so much. Agree that corn is great trainer and the easiest way to move them to any chosen spot.
 
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