[miller15]

i dont have chickens yet but i am trying to find out as much as i can, should i have a feeder inside and should i hav just one outside??


thanks

[andreadon]

i assume you mean inside or outside the house?

have the feeder outside the house, inside the run.
if you put it inside the house they'll tread in it and spill it everywhere.
(and they won't need it at night anyway)

[miller15]

ok. and what should i feed them because someone said layers pellets but someone else said just allot of grain? and how much per bird per day?

[Foxy]

I have mine hanging down inside the henhouse to prevent mice and rats coming into the run, stops the run getting yucky with spoiled food.

[andreadon]

4 and a half oz per hen per day, usually.
layers' pellets are good.

that should be all they need, because the pellets are a special formula, but make sure they have access to grit (which you can buy and have a bowl ready or you can just give them a big box of rough soil - which they will use fordust-bathing in too)
don't ration the food too much - leave the feeder available at all times because they "graze".
and hang up cabbages to peck at (grass and cabbages are best because they need greens to make the yolk a lovely dark yelloe colour)

[Foxy]

what breeds are you thinking off??

[miller15]

ok i wil do that. i dont know i have sen a few breeds, which breeds lay allot but look good?

[andreadon]

it really depends on what you think "looks good"!! 

hybrids lay loads- bovans nera is pretty (black)
and a silverlink, amber star or amberlink (pretty much the same thing) lay millions of eggs    and are white-ish with brown flecks.

i'm biased though, cos i've got one of each.....

[shiatsusu]

Rhode island hybrids are good all round birds and lay well too 

[cathangirl]

Hello Miller,
Welcome to keeping chickens.

Make sure that fresh water is available at all times, as well as oyster shell for calcium, (for strong egg shells).  Grit aids digestion, so that should be available too.

My hybrid girls have access at all times to layers pellets as well as the above.  I give them treats also, but not too early as they are better filled on layers pellets.  They have a small handful of corn between 3 and 4 pm, but I am easing back a little, as they are free range and the weather is warming up now.

Good luck.
cathangirl