Single hen

[Alex_A]

I read somewhere on here that a good way of using up "stale" pellets that have been in the grub for a while is to make porridge out of them with warm water (adding in some garlic powder, limestone flour etc.). I tried them on some on Saturday and by the time we got home they had probably eaten about 3/4 of it, but they didn't touch the fresh batch I put out for them yesterday. I wondered if I had made it too dry for them (or put too much garlic powder in for them)? Does anyone have an approximate recipe for it, please?

[RubyReckless]

To be honest, i think it is a "mix it and see" kind of affair. I've done it with pellets soaked with hot water and yog stirred in until it's a thick slush. I;ve not added garlic (I haven't got any) but I have stirred in marmite.

[moomin]

You'll find it will soak up hot water like crazy, I normally add hot water from the kettle, enough to cover the pellets, then leave it 5 minutes and add some more water, keep doing this until it's a thickish cement sort of consistency but not crumbly.

 

I then add:

 

- 1 teaspoon cod liver oil (from a horsey shop, I have read in loads of places that this is supposed to be good for chickens!!)

- 1 heaped teaspoon bokashi bran (good for solid poos)

- quarter of a teaspoon chicken spice

then some treats like a bit of sweetcorn, lushious crunchy dried mealworms etc.

 

I have two chickens

 

Hope this helps

[Sandychick]

The pellets do soak up a lot of water and if they are not eating it that quick it can dry out before they are finished. Mine seem to prefer quite a sloppy sort of consistancy - I think this is just because it gives them the opportunity to make more of a mess

[mostin]

Mine definitely prefer it sloppy, they sulk and leave it when it's too dry

 

I've come to realise that this is probably because the dried mealworms I mix in float to the top when it's really sloppy so they don't have to hunt as hard for them. Lazy girls

[Sandychick]

 

I've come to realise that this is probably because the dried mealworms I mix in float to the top when it's really sloppy so they don't have to hunt as hard for them.

 

If you leave the dried mealworms to soak for a while, they re-hydrate and go all wriggly again! They love it

[Egluntyne]

Mine like it sloppy too. With Poultry Spice, sultanas and limestone flour.

[Steve.]

My technique for tomorrow's pellet porridge ... refining as I go.

 

Pellets + a small handful of mixed corn + garlic + spice + bran, mix it all up with a fork.

 

Now add hot water. Then add some more.

 

Serve.

[MedusA]

The sloppier the better for my girls. My recipe is similar to Egluntine's with occasional extras. They go mad for it and it makes me feel good that they've eaten up all their leftovers!

[Alex_A]

That's really helpful - thanks! I think I have been making mine too dry (and then it gets drier over time). I'll try adding a few raisins and some mixed corn as well as the garlic powder. I've got some bokashi and limestone flour on order as well, so I'll add that as well.

 

Thanks again!

[BethBubbles]

Why are they called layers? B

[stoice]

Chicks start on chick crumbs (until the chicks are 6-8 weeks old) this is a high protein food to help them grow. From 6-8 weeks onwards growers pellets/mash should be fed. For birds that are to be kept as laying hens, introduce Layers Pellets from 16 weeks.

 

Layers pellets (Or the powdered form - layers mash) is a complete dry food for birds that lay. ie: From point of lay (18-20 weeks onwards) and for birds that are being kept for their eggs.

 

These should be provided on an ad lib basis (so the birds can eat as much as they want) Feeding these pellets will provide the birds with essential protein, vitamins and minerals (particularly calcium) necessary to produce eggs on a regular basis.

 

Hope this helps BethBubbles

[Steve.]

Why are they called layers? B

 

Because they are for laying hens.

 

This had me flummoxed for a long while .... until I heard of Growers Pellets

[stoice]

Me too Steve!

 

I first thought it had something to do with the way you gave it to them, some sort of layering system or something.

[mostin]

Me too Steve!

 

I first thought it had something to do with the way you gave it to them, some sort of layering system or something.

 

That's exactly what I thought! it took me weeks to figure it out.