hilda-and-evadne Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 When she heard about my new hens (yay!), a friend offered me what's left of a bag of wheat that she bought to feed the swans in the Park. I've searched on this forum to see if wheat is OK for them and found a couple of references to it being fattening (and fat hens don't lay). Should I accept her kind offer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Maybe it's the same for hens as it is for us- everything in moderation? A handful every now & then shouldn't be to bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Mine didn't like wheat much - Angelica would throw it out of the grub and leave it for the mice to steal In the end I switched to cut maize, and I just give less of it. But either way, any carbohydrate-based food like grain is going to be fattening in excess, same as with us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Mine didn't like wheat much - Angelica would throw it out of the grub and leave it for the mice to steal In the end I switched to cut maize, and I just give less of it. But either way, any carbohydrate-based food like grain is going to be fattening in excess, same as with us! Thank you - just a little, then, to see if they eat it. I certainly don't want to attract mice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Thank you - just a little, then, to see if they eat it. I certainly don't want to attract mice. They got their revenge in the end - by catching and killing the mouse! Boy was there a kerfuffle! Both of them wanted it, and I had to take it off them to avoid violence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I had a bag of wheat given to me. My girls turned their noses up at it I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Wheat is fine to give if they'll eat it. Corn is fattening. Wheat releases energy more slowly and is the best thing to give in winter as a scratch feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Mine seemed to prefer pot barley, maybe because it's slightly smaller. I thought I might try getting some barley and/or indigo wheat from Wiggly Wigglers as an alternative to maize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 Thank you, everyone - v. helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Wheat is often fed to hens with prolapses as it doesn't encourage egg formation. It is not as nutritious as pellets, corn etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
