The Poultry Keeper

fortroyal · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

I have eight hens and a cockerel. They have complete free-range of my garden and paddock, plenty of space. I give them all our leftover cereals, bread and vegetables. Despite this they all follow me as if they were starving! Should I give them additional grain or should they really be able to find enough food for themselves in the garden and surrounding areas?

My husband says that all creatures are driven by sex and food..........

Knobby · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:32 am Post subject:

Do they always have Layers Pellets available ?

fortroyal · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

No, anything I leave out, the squirrels take. I don't use pellets, I have some grain I give them now and again.

Knobby · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:38 am Post subject:

I would say then, yes, they "could" are hungry...But I assume they dont look thin, or you would just give them more food !...
I only say "could" because mine always have Layers available to eat, they get grain in the afternoon (And go WILD for it)....(mine dont free range)

Your right tho'....they always follow you around with that "Hungry" look in their faces !!!

I Very Happy

dubois · Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

Mine have layers pellets all the time, yet they still run at me when they see me with the bucket of wheat.

mojo · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:51 am Post subject: hi

i think some more food is needed try a handfull of pellets if they eat immediatly try a second and so on till you know how much they need.....................mojo

NannyP · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject:

Whe I was caring for some hens in France, they were only given some grain, the rest they had to find from free ranging. They were not very heavy, and their eggs where few and far between and somehow not as solid as my hens at home Sad

.

I would suggest that your birds need access to layers pellets at least once a day. Mine get their's mostly when they return to the coop in the evening. It's hanging inside the coop, they tend to eat from there just before roosting. They also take some when they have been on the nest laying, and probably upon waking in the morning.

And as the others say, this will not stop them seeing you as a vending machine, and they are greedy little b******s Laughing

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

I have layers pellets out for them all day in a container which they feed at when they want, they also forage about as they are free ranging from 8.30 till about 6pm when they get their treat of mixed corn, which they go mad for. I do chuck some of the pellets onto the ground as well as they seem to enjoy scratching about for it.

Our Weaten Maran, Margot is looking a bit thin at the moment, but appears to be eating plenty and drinking ok as well as foraging about, she has started to moult in the last few days and she is losing quite a lot of feathers, there are lots in the house in the morning and plenty around the garden, I suppose this could be why she looks a bit thinner and less glam as usual. She is showing no signs of distress and is not being pecked.. sorry picked on by the others. Rolling Eyes