The Poultry Keeper

strangey · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Cumbria

I am currently feeding my girls on layers pellets with the odd mixed corn now and again.

If i wanted to feed them on just mixed corn will i need to add any thing else to their diet or will the corn be fine, Also will feeding them mixed corn reduce the amount of eggs i get (Currently not recieveing any)

I always have a full tub of oyster shells in the corner of the coup if that helps Question

Hen-Gen · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject:

Though chickens eat mixed corn with great enthusiasm you must learn to view it in the same way that children eat chocolate with similar enthusiasm. It is not a balanced diet and corn should only be given late in the day as a treat.
In fact pellets contain all a chicken needs but greenfood, apples etc are good as treats.

strangey · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Cumbria

Yeah i understand that the pellets have every thing in them, i just want to feed them on the mixed corn as i would like to think the eggs might taste that little bit better and it does not cost me any more to buy

Hen-Gen · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject:

Are well, if its taste you're after, then grass is the clue! No, I dont mean smoke it but give it fresh each day to your hens. Not long stringy bits which can cause problems but absolutely fresh mower clippings.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

mixed corn doesn't have all the nutrients in and of itself that a hen or rooster needs, if they are ranging on mixed grassland over a relatively large area they will likely get most of what they need in supplementation themselves, if not I'd think about adding dried insects, sowing an edible seed/flower mix (you can get good ones for tortoises on e-bay relatively cheaply, just make sure you protect them for a while till they start growing well)

if they are in a small area then I'd recommend sticking with layers pellets as the main food, much as I don't agree with processed 'complete' foods if you don't have the time or ability to offer enough variety in other ways the formulated diets do apparently have everything a hen needs.

strangey · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Cumbria

Cheers Hen Gen i have just started throwing my clippings in i did not know that it would give me great tasting eggs.

Kitsune I will certainly check out the edible seed/flower mix but they are in a relatively small enclosure (25 foot wide x 25 foot long) so looks like it is just as a treat then Sad

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 766 Location: Nottinghamshire

Mine love dandelion leaves, and I'm sure it's the greens they eat that produces such amazing yolks! Smile

strangey · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Cumbria

Well that is good news as i can give them any amount of weeds as my allotment is over run at the moment Smile

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 766 Location: Nottinghamshire

They'll love it! Are they actually on your allotment?

strangey · Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Cumbria

Yeah, i have sectioned it of but when i am down there working i leave there door open to wander around for aslong as they want

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 766 Location: Nottinghamshire

They'll be helping themselves to allsorts of goodies, then! Smile

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

Be careful with cut grass, it can cause impacted crop, and not always because it's long, they can get it when the grass is quite short if fed in large quantities.

Autumn · Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 486 Location: Suffolk

Ooh, I'm glad you said that Pekinout, as I'd heard that too, but wasn't sure enough to put it on here! Very Happy

as soon as mine get out in the morning they start pecking at the grass. they too love dandelions and the eggs are slightly sweet (could be because I give a few grapes or blueberries as treats as they don't like corn!!?) - gorgeous. Very Happy

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

I put 8 banty leghorn growers on to a 8' x 20' patch of rampant ground elder. They've cleared it! Nothing green has dared to show itself & I'll have to move them to a grassed run soon.

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 766 Location: Nottinghamshire

Organic weed clearers - that's what chickens are. And they leave the soil ready fertilised as well! Laughing