The Poultry Keeper

pjred · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 213

My birds are about 15 weeks old, they seem to have stopped eating the layer mash that I put out. They look healthy enough and the combs are growing (Compared to when I got them 2 weeks ago)

At what age should I take them off the mash? I am feeding them what they had at the farm. They have a couple of treats (Not sure if daughter gives any while I am at work)

I have just boiled up some 'Pulses' (Lentils, barley etc) for them, so I know they have something before I leg it to work.

If I remove the mash, what would you recommend I feed them? They are ok for greens!

Paul

rosierosie · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 17

Hi Paul, if you want them to lay then as I understand they need the layers mash or pellets.Maybe they are having to many treats and extras.I give our girls layers pellets softened with boiled water and add boiled rice/pasta/ boiled potatoes or peelings brown bread depending what it left over and varied every day,they have half a cabbage each day,but they have a feeder in there coup at night and then in there run during the day with layers pellets. are in the garden all day eating vegetation. lay every day one laying double yolkers most days.TC Rosie

pjred · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 213

Hi Rosie,
They are too young to lay ATM. I have got pellets and mash in the run, no food in the coop. I am not giving them the treats you are (However sounds like it is working) I am out for 10-12 hours so not sure if the family are spoiling them.

If I should be feeding the 'Growers' I am sure someone on here will tell/advise me Very Happy

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1341 Location: Manchester

I'm still feeding my 17 week old chickens on growers, I'll be switching them over to layers pellets once they finish the growers that's in the feeder, probably tomorrow or the next day.

I think 15 weeks should be ok for layers mash/pellets - do you want to switch them to pellets or take them off the processed food completely?

Chickens survived for a long time before processed diets, as long as they are getting a variety of feed and have a large area to range over they should be fine - but beware of feeding them too many treats (corn, sunflower seeds etc.) as they'll eat them in preference to everything else.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3240 Location: Monmouthshire

For years my birds went from chick crumbs to layers pellets. I only started to use growers pellets when I had some really small bantams who couldn't cope easily with the size of layers pellets. Of course, those reared by a broody get them broken up by 'mum' anyway.