Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Maccbean]

OK, I went to the local farming supplies shop today, and asked if they had bran to feed chickens. The two chaps there looked at me like I was really stupid! and I felt a real numpty Bran would be really bad for chickens they said. Persisting, I asked if perhaps they had Bokashi Bran, which you can fee chickens, which of course they didn't. I was very embarrassed (although delighted that a 20kg bag of layers pellets only cost £6.40!).

 

Anyway, my question is, if I feed bran to the chickens, does it have to be bokashi bran?

 

Ta in advance.

 

Debbie

[Hen Watch]

I was the same last year. Rang loads of garden centres looking for Bokashi Composting Bran and no body knew what on earth I was on about.

 

Got mine in the online shop at.

http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk

 

Bokashi Bran or you can buy Layers Mash with Bran in already (but I've not bought that).

 

I personally only use the Bokashi once a week (I know others use it daily) and prefer to mix it in with wet treats. If I add it to the pellets I find my naughty hens eat all the pellets and leave the bran in the bottom of the feeder.

[Maccbean]

See, now I get that I've been feeding mine bokashi bran for the past six weeks, but is it the same as other just bran (like you can get from farming wholesalers!).

[Hen Watch]

is it the same as other just bran (like you can get from farming wholesalers!).

 

Errr.... don't know.

 

But if you click on the Omlet Shop they sell bokashi active bran and it is explained very well the virtues of it making the poop less acidic and therefore less need to lime the soil etc. I personally started using it when one of my chooks had the squits as it is good for firming up poops. Once she was over that episode I just give it now weekly. But then I do still chuck garden lime in my compost bin to counteract the chicken poop in there (mainly because I have a massive 10kg tub of lime to get through)

[stoice]

but is it the same as other just bran (like you can get from farming wholesalers!).

 

To quote Wigglywigglers website... 'It is a dry mixture of bran and molasses that has been inoculated with Ems or Effective microOrganisms... a carefully controlled mixture of microscopic bacteria, yeasts and fungi that work together to speed-up composting, suppress pathogens, prevent putrefaction and eliminate foul odours'

 

Whereas i think bran you'd get from farming wholesalers may just be... bran.

 

I sprinkle a handfull in with their pellets although it usually sinks to the bottom or the girls sometimes ignore it so i also add it to wet treats like Hen Watch does (With layers mash, water, yogurt, limestone flour, cod liver oil etc)

[Maccbean]

Thanks, that obviously explains it then! Plain bran won't be used .

 

Ta

Debbie

[eggalp]

maccbean

 

i live in macclesfield - where did you find your bargain chicken food???

 

i am currently paying £9 a sack from a horsey place in prestbury - if there is anywhere cheaper i would love to know!

 

thanks

[Maccbean]

Hi Eggalp

 

I bought it from Chelford Farm Supplies.

 

Must be the difference between Posh Prestbury and Cheap Chelford

 

Cheers

Debbie

[eggalp]

Thanks maccbean, i am quite new to the area and up until now i havent found anywhere else to go. I shall be heading down to chelford next time i need to stock up. Me thinks i have been ripped off......................!