4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[kerrie]

After getting my eglu on Friday and chickens yesterday I was feeling really good-until this morning when I've got so many question's it's just not funny! The most important one right now is how much food do you put in the grub feeders? I've got 3 chickens and am using the layers pellets I ordered from Omlet along with the eglu. Also being in Newcastle we're pretty chilly here today-do I give them some warm porridge made with water this afternoon/before it gets dark and they go to bed?

Thanks

Kerrie

Ruby

Isabelle

Daisy

Thanks so much for your help!

[Egluntyne]

They don't need anything more than the pellets to start with. Everything they need is in them.

 

You might want to bring the food in once the hens hav e retired for the night to avoid attracting rodents.

 

If the weather is cold many omleteers make a porridgy supper for them made from pellets and warm water with additions such as raisins, sweetcorn, Poultry Spice etc.

[Redwing]

Egluntine is right, just pellets normally. I just fill up the Grub and refill when its getting low - there is no 'right' quantity of pellets, the chickens will take what they need.

 

Treats are another matter - they will eat as many as you will give them and will in fact act like they haven't been fed for weeks - corn, sweetcorn, mealworms, rasins and green veggies are all good treats

 

Fed treats in the afternoon as then they will fill themselves up in the morning with the pellets which give them everything they need to lay eggs

 

If your chickens are not laying eggs they will eat less so don't panic

[poachedegg]

^^^

What they said and congratulations on your chickens!

[kerrie]

Thank you to everyone for replying-do the grub need to be filled right up?

Kerrie

Ruby

Isabelle

Daisy

(Not forgetting the kids Jennifer, Megan and Josh, cats Alfie and Ollie and cavalier king charles puppy Oscar!)

[poachedegg]

Fill it up initially, then top up when it gets near the bottom - perhaps give it stir so that the old food gets used up too.

[helenmb]

Thank you to everyone for replying-do the grub need to be filled right up?

I find if you fill the grubs too full then they are inclined to fling the feed out into the run which is a pain to clear up and also attracts rodents. Some people put a tray (a small plant seed tray would work) below it to catch any spills. They will eat as much as they need so with 3 of them they aren't going to get through a whole grub in one day. They also eat more when they are laying so if your girls are still quite young then they won't eat as much.

 

I give my girls some greens in the middle of the day and perhaps a bit (and I mean a bit) of corn an hour before bedtime when its cold.