The Poultry Keeper

Curly Jo · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

I've just purchased 2 x 5 week old chickens and was provided some growers pellets.

How long do I need to continue feeding them this, when do I change them to layers pellets, when do I need to feed them grit, can I feed them veggie peelings now and will I really need to give them extra corn?

So many questions I know but I'd love some answers! Embarassed

Thanks folks x

Welsh Duck · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject:

Grit is usefull at any age. I keep feeding growers until they are about to lay.

Curly Jo · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

thanks very much - that's very helpful.

would you risk feeding them veggie peelings as well or are they still too young?

Diane · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 274 Location: Dorset

At 5 weeks you can give a very small amount of greens - I just give it once or twice a week to start with (with a pot of grit). But I stress - small amounts only just until their gut becomes used to it. I wouldn't give them corn just yet - I usually wait until 9 - 10 weeks at least and then only once a week or so, as it will dilute the proportions of protein in the pellets they eat, which are all they really need when they are growing.

mojo · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

anything other than complete pellets are TREATS and should be given as such.tiny quantitys till they are used to them.no potatoe peelings unless well cooked and tiny amount of lettace.no bread that hasnt been dampened well and no corn or maize till 10/12 weeks.............good luck

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

If you've got the birds outside & on grass, they can eat anything. Those of mine with broodies are out from the word go and eat feed wheat within a few days - mum tells them to! Veggie peelings should be cooked - greens fed raw.

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1443 Location: Leicestershire

Mine always get wheat in with the crumb - even those without a mum (I bought some chicks at Melton market last week)

Itsybitsy

Woodburner · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

I've avoided chick crumb and pellets, on account of soya being so nasty, but they have been on grass from about day two. They had chick corn ad lib, and now have mixed corn also ad lib. It hasn't caused any problems, in fact they are more interested in foraging and sunbathing.

I did have some problems with the Cobbs early on, while they were confined, but by all accounts, that would have happened anyway. They are now very active and putting on weight at a more reasonable rate.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1267 Location: Correze

I also avoid pellets as far as possible, for 2 reasons - one is the same as Woodburner, I don't like soya, which is used to bulk-up feed cheaply, and secondly is the cost!

My chooks free-range over several acres, and get a fist-full each (or thereabouts) of wheat with a little maize mixed in, twice a day.

The chicks get crumb for the first week, then I gradually change them to grain. Those with a broody tend to get changed-over more quickly.

I know there are many on here who swear by Layers etc, but the birds wouldn't eat pellets in the wild, so I can't understand why it's considered "best" feed them pellets "in captivity"?!!

I get a really good supply of eggs from my girls, too, generally one a day from each of them with the odd day-off here and there.