They say bread, crushed crackers, cereal and all of that stuff, but it's kinda hard to get it all prepared every day. Lately, my leghorns have just had chickfood and some ricecrispies. Anything that i should be told? bananas are good for snacks i've heard...i havent tried yet tho
What is the best food for chickens?
How old are your chickens? They should be eating chicken food now not chickfood. I feed mine layer pellets and henscratch (wheat and cracked corn). I also treat mine to bread crust, old salad mixes, corn cobs and anything else that can be composted. I don't feed them meat though. Chickens are a scavange bird, they'll eat anything that doesn't eat them first!! LOL
Gardner-that last comment made me giggle ;)
I think if they are on a good layer formula, that should be their main diet...and then scraps of veggies, etc for a "treat" Right now, my father in law thinks I should keep mine in at all times. We are on an acreage, and rent from him. He's over here every day helping with chores/me with the boys etc. So If he has any advice, I like to take it. I did try to tell him there were others in cold climates that let theirs out....anyways, what I was getting to was, since mine are "cooped" up *haha* all the time, I try to give them something to "do" so I put in a flake or so of alfalfa hay. It does keep them busy through the day.
This message was edited Dec 2, 2007 5:57 PM
BeautifulBrahma, Thanks, I like to make people laugh! My girls and boy have a covered pen (inside an old machine shed attached to the barn) so they aren't bothered by the weather snow, rain, etc. I keep the human door and windows closed when it's real cold, but on warmer days I just open the windows to let a little light in. Are they spoiled? Naaaaaaahhh!! LOL My husband cut a big branch off the Cottonwood tree that we have that was starting to rot and had bugs in it and put a section of it in the pen. He said at first they looked at it like, "what are we supposed to do with that?" LOL They are all over it now, pecking, scratching and sitting. I have two pullets that I hatched out in my incubator that I can pick up and talk to. Sometimes if I'm holding one and not paying attention to the other one before I know it I'm holding two as she will fly up and land on my shoulder! Their other sister and brother won't let me pick them up, but that's ok. Can't you just imagine me in the pen holding three pullets and a rooster!! Yikes!! LOL
Teehee, cute! I know, I just love to hold my chickens. My big buff brahma roos have the softest feathers; I just love the long "neck" feathers, lol! My fil was out yesterday, and helping seal some drafts up (two of the four windows shrunk up, and left a 1/4 inch gap) while he was hammering the piece of wood in, I was holding chickens, lol!
I had a neon yellow stocking cap on yesterday. I was kneeling down to just check everybody out, and a few of my white rock pullets/light brahma pullets were staring at me, cocking their heads-it was the cutest thing. One of the white rocks did this little hop/flutter thing, I think she was trying to get to my cap :)
Yeah, it's amazing how we become attached to chickens. I think they're just a little intrigging to us and they are cute. I have some that as soon as they see me coming they charge the gate and I have to step over them to get inside. Needless to say I have stepped on a few toes and boy howdy do I hear about it! LOL
Oh yeah! I have to hold my hands up when I open the top door, they are there, and waiting to get out, lol! I've had a couple different pullets fly up and land on the bottom door. And yes, they do let you know when you step on them, don't they, heehee!
My two buff brahma hens like to "talk" to me. When I pick them up, and pet them/talk to them, they have these little coo type sounds. I just love it!
I know the feeling well in both respects. I love it too!
Fire-shy, aren't your birds full grown? Too mamy treats are hard on your birds digestive tract, they should have mainly chicken feed. Too much cracked corn will make them too fat to lay eggs, so love them, but don't love them to death. LOL
fire_shy, The henscratch that I feed to my gang is wheat & cracked corn and I feed the 17 birds about 2 cups a.m. and p.m. The rest of the time they eat layer pellets free choice. I also treat them to bread crust, vegies and on occasion worms in the fall when they're migrating after an evening rain. That's why they're called "treats".
I feed my chickens laying pellets and throw some oyster shell out there once in a while. In the winter, shouldn't we be feeding them something else too ? what about scratch or corn chops?
kathy
kathy, I feed mine scratch year round as a treat. I just pour it out of a coffee can in a circle and I have one pullet that follows the can, she even jumps up and tries to catch the scratch! What a character! I feed them the scratch a.m. and p.m., about 2 cups both feedings and that for 18 birds. They love it!
G 105, that's just about right for that amout of birds.
Carol
Carol, thanks for the input. They get free choice layer pellets too.
Sounds like i'll be buying some scratch next time around, I was going to buy some anyways.
thanks