[Blarney]

This winter is my first as a hen keeper.  I remember when I was younger I gave my rabbit food with molasses in during the winter.  Can you advise if I should give my hens anything different to eat during the cold winter months?

At the moment they have their layer pellets, scraps from the kitchen and the hay in their nest box which I think they eat - and they have devoured my lovely established rhubarb plant which I am less than impressed about!!   :evil:

[richyrich7]

I give mine a handful of mixed corn about 1hr before bed, it helps keep them warm as it slow to digest. apart from that no. And you'd be better off putting straw in the net box, hay is too hard for them and can lead to compacted crops when they eat it.

[compostqueen]

In the Hen House there's a piece about keeping hens through winter by Munty I think. He also has a thread about feeding as well so go and check that out   It's all in the hen house.  Aunt Sal has a piece in there about warm food at tea time as well

[Blarney]

Thanks for the advice, but i've looked everywhere on this site for 'Munty's' information & I cannot find it.
I was advised not to use hay as it's more prone to red mites.

[richyrich7]

Muntys post is in the Poultry info section all you need to know  

[stamford]

Ive been using Barley Straw, is this OK ?

[richyrich7]

Ive been using Barley Straw, is this OK ?

Should be

[poultrygeist]

I've got barley straw. They only ate a bit of it when I dumped some in the run. The nest box remains untouched.


Rob

[Bodger]

I wouldn't alter what I actually feed your chickens but might feed a tad more of it, because the chickens will be using a little extra energy to keep themselves warm.
I've used straw as bedding for chickens successfuly in the past but its essential that you keep it dry. Straw when wet soon becomes rancid and smelly. I've been piling in the dry leaves these last few weeks and also use shavings.

[Vember]

Foxy has done an excellent piece on winter care for your birds

Have a look here & add stuff

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=26974


Sarah

[kimT]

I bought from my local feedy place last week something they call winter feed and what it is is a mixture of wheat, corn, layers pellets etc etc.

They say that hens don't lay during the winter so they need a balanced mixture of all feeds and then when the weather picks up back to the layers.

It's a bit like pick & mix  

[Foxy]

well I think layers pellets is a balanced feed, and hens will lay the odd eggie through winter, personally I would stick to layers pellets and add mixed in the afternoon. Hens need to maintain the correct levels of nutrients particulary calcium. Just IMO  
Treated mine to left over cooked rice this morning warmed in the microwave with added oats - they loved it!

[kimT]

Mine have had parsnip mash this morning so lots of beak valeting going on now!

[Blarney]

I'm so pleased that I discovered this site as you are all so helpful.  Thank you for taking the time to advise me.
My four girls are currently tucking into a mixture of hot potato peelings, bubble and squeak and noodles.  I always gave it cold so I'll warm it up now the days are colder.
As I'm a real townie it's harder for me to buy hen feed, thankfully a pet shop five miles from here sells the layers pellets so I'll look on line for the pick & mix that you describe.
Thanks x