[joyce c]

I have just read a Poultry Magazine, which informs me that mixed corn alone isn't sufficient for my 2 girls.  It compared it to us purely eating cream cakes.  The lady I got them from advised the mixed corn and oyster shells, plus odd tit bits.  I want what ever is best for them, can someone please try and unconfuse me.   

[Jane-M]

I can only tell you what I do, and it is pretty common practice, but other people have other methods.

They have layers pellets (bog standard from Farmway £7.50) on offer at all times to help themselves. In the morning - or whenever I am around - I give them fresh greens/garden weeds/lawn cuttings (not long cut grass)/ bits of past it fruit. In the evening they get a little bit of mixed corn scattered on the ground so they have to work for it - they love this. Only about a flat tablespoon each. They have oyster shell at all times and grit, even though they are out on an earth run so probably don't need the grit. Unfortunately they also get unregulated bread from my lovely neighbour - but she's worth it.

They do like a drink of milk too - if there is breakfast cereal being wasted I just put the whole thing out.

Where in Newcastle are you Joyce?

[joyfull]

mine have organic layers pellets available all day, a few meal worms as a treat, sweetcorn as a treat, in winter they have warm porrige or ready brek or muesli all made with water, and in the evening a small handfull of organic mixed corn. Oyster shell is served in a seperste container available all day, and as they are free ranging they get their grit off my drive 

[GrannieAnnie]

Nice talking to you just now Joyce!  I hope you now feel better about what to feed your new girls!?  Good luck with it.

When one of our hybrids went broody (which they are not supposed to do) my Brian just kept chucking her out of the coop because she was trying to stop the others from laying!

Now she sleeps in the small ark with Roise one of our first amberlinks who doesn't lay eggs and never crows, so she doesn't know what she is!!!! lol

[FCG]

They'd love a treat of hot porridge off you on cold and miserable days. Another trick is to crush up layers pellets up with warm water to make a nice hot mash for them

[bubs]

layers pellets is their main food , give them a handful of mixed corn as a treat . a couple of times a week i will boil some dried pasta along with diced potatoe scraps of cabbage and carrots and i add a tin of sweetcorn and the chickens absolutely love it .
but your chickens will eat any scraps of your leftover dinner , bread ,cereals vegatables or fruit BUT DON'T FEED THEM MEAT .

[nzdunn]

I have loads of weetabix in the cupboard do you reckon they would like a little bit of that as a treat mushed up with warm water or milk.   Nickyx

[LittleRedHen]

I just gave our girls a treat of left over whole wheat bread dampened with warm water, and a can of sardines, mashed up, oil and all.  They loved it and so did the local birds that tried to steal it! 

[joyfull]

I have loads of weetabix in the cupboard do you reckon they would like a little bit of that as a treat mushed up with warm water or milk.   Nickyx

Wouldn't give them too much though - make it with warm water 

[joyce c]

I can only tell you what I do, and it is pretty common practice, but other people have other methods.

They have layers pellets (bog standard from Farmway £7.50) on offer at all times to help themselves. In the morning - or whenever I am around - I give them fresh greens/garden weeds/lawn cuttings (not long cut grass)/ bits of past it fruit. In the evening they get a little bit of mixed corn scattered on the ground so they have to work for it - they love this. Only about a flat tablespoon each. They have oyster shell at all times and grit, even though they are out on an earth run so probably don't need the grit. Unfortunately they also get unregulated bread from my lovely neighbour - but she's worth it.
to check it out.

They do like a drink of milk too - if there is breakfast cereal being wasted I just put the whole thing out.

Where in Newcastle are you Joyce?

Hi thanks for your reply.  I live in Denton Burn. 

[nzdunn]

so dairy products such as milk as fine to give in small quantities.    nickyx