Single hen

[tania]

I am sure that these questions have been asked many times before but I can't find the answers looking at past posts, so sorry here I go!

 

When the girls were delivered the (very helpful) chap said that I should fill the grub half full, which I did. Over the last 3 days they have eaten well but there was masses still left. I was worried that it might be stale so I changed it this morning and didn't put so much in the grub. Should they have fresh pellets daily or is it ok to leave it until they have eaten it all?

 

I have also been changing the water every day. I presume this is correct as I change the dogs water every day and wouldn't give them day old water (although they much prefer a muddy puddle to drink!) ?

 

Thank you

 

The Mowtown Diva's

Matha

Aretha

Diana

[C&T]

Congratualtions on the new arivals!

 

They don't eat loads when they are not laying - and even laying I will refill my grub only 2 or 3 times a week (for 2 chickens). I leave till they are nearly finished and then top up. Don't need to throw it away or anything!

 

Water I replace every day / every other day.

 

Hope you enjoy them!!

[Egluntyne]

Yes...re changing the water everyday.

 

No need to discard pellets unless they become damp or go past their use by date.

 

The hens won't eat much a all until they come into lay, so I'd just 1/4 fill the grub until they start eating more.

[Busybird]

I don't think that you need to remove the uneaten pellets. When I top the grub up I just tip more over what is left. The grub keeps the pellets dry and the sack of the same pellets sits in the shed for the five or six weeks that it takes the girls to eat their way through it.

 

I tend to fill the grub about a third full as my girls are very messy eaters and tend to scatter a lot on the ground - a problem made worse by a full grub.

 

However, you will find that they eat a LOT more when they start to lay eggs. I have, on occasion, found an empty grub when I go to check on them mid morning. I then feel very guilty - especially when they all eat frantically when I top the grub up. Mind you, if the grub starts to get empty they then eat the scattered pellets on the ground.

 

I too change their water daily and they all run to drink from the puddle of 'old' water that I tip over the garden