Mrs Frugal Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 (edited) It's rather confusing knowing what treats to give our girls, isn't it? Some go loopy for lettuce whilst others only swoon for sweetcorn! We've had lots of suggestions from Eglu owners... Chicken snacks Custard Creams!! What to feed the chickens Demanding hens Share and share alike Cat food Fussy Chickens Water - problems with the peanut water feeder have led to quite a few postings. If you're looking for ideas or solutions, check out these links - Peanuts Water, water everywhere Not Thirsty Like Me Wondering if anything in the garden will give your girls bad stomachs?? Poisonous foods poisonous plants There's a good web link below, although bevare, its a bit daunting seeing all the poisonous plants! poisonous plants If you're wondering where to get your layers mash from, here are a few suggestions Feed suppliers and if that layers mash is causing you hassle, check out Layer's Mash Mess for some common sense advice on some good ways to serve it to your girls . Edited April 19, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 My chickens hunted down and tried to kill a full grown frog yesterday, I had to save it. They seem to eat anything and everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Hi guest - great that you managed to rescue the frog. I'm afraid that is normal hen behaviour - they are descended from dinosaurs Hopefully your frog population will learn to get out of the way quickly, or you might be able to train your hens to leave them alone. A bit of aversion therapy with a squirty water bottle has been used by other people to sort out noisy hens and won't hurt your hens at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 I find it hard to see chickens as bloodthirsty, just opportunists that would eat something if it happened to be there. Maybe my sweet little angels do it in secret. My chickens go nuts for pearl barley, it's bizarre they were really picky up to now and not enthusiastic about food, just eating layers mash and whatever they found. Now they go crazy and race to see who can peck it up the fastest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 hee hee I noticed my chickens had a shrew between them, chasing eachother around, they even ate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Storm_01 Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Can you mix the pellets? I.E. buy two or three different plellet mixes and combine them? Also, do they only come in 20Kg bags? Are there smaller qauntities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Can you mix the pellets? I.E. buy two or three different plellet mixes and combine them? You can - not sure why you would want to do this though. Mine just get whatever's going at the feed merchants. They're on Spillers pellets at the moment. Also, do they only come in 20Kg bags? Are there smaller qauntities? They do - you can get 5kg bags from some places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 My local pet store stocks small bags and will make up a bag in whatever quantity you want. I get a big bag from Omlet and the girls manage to get through it before the sell by date. Most hens will eat whatever you give them, and some are more fussy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Storm_01 Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 the reason I was asking is because they all seem to have something that the others don't..... The other reason I was asking is because I was thinking of mixing the bag of con mix with the pellets, and let the chooks have it available all day. Unless they are total slaves to their stomach... Don't want them to end up looking like me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 The trouble with that is you need to make sure they eat lots of pellets, otherwise they won't lay eggs. So by mixing corn, you might be allowing them to eat the corn only and leave the pellets.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 That's true, they're naughty like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Storm_01 Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Goodness do I remember the problems we had with the cats..... Some wouldn't this and some wouldn't eat that, one didn't like whiskers while another one hated Go Cat etc...... In the end we used to go through something like 4 breeders bags of Iams every week. It cost a blooming fortune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana1 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 I'm sure I read somewhere about feeding the chickens with cooked porridge ie made with water and then yoghurt added, serving it warm. I feel sorry for the birds in this cold weather and fancy giving them something warm. Do some add warm water to the pellets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Mine had warm porridge with s"Ooops, word censored!"s this morning, but they didn't seem interested for a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana1 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 porridge is now being cooked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Quick one. I assume melon seeds are ok. I dont have to bale/dry them first do I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 Mine love the seeds, just as they are. Plus any leftovers to peck from the skin. Very good for layers I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyB Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 I have been informed from someone on another forum that it is actually illegal to feed our chooks kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s, leftovers, whatever you want to call them by DEFRA. If anything goes through your kitchen then you can't give it to the chooks. What exactly are the legal points on this and what, if anything, could someone do to me for feeding my chooks leftover pasta or even if I cook pasta especially for my chooks?? My girls are happy and healthy but I am confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 I've heard that too, but understood (and am happy to be corrected) that this only held if you intend to sell your chooks' eggs or slaughter them to sell for meat. Mine all have kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Lesley might know - I know that she once said something to me about their pigs not being allowed kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana1 Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Good to make use of melon seeds. I shall try that. I think kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s might mean meat and that to throw out meat to chickens or to throw meat on the compost is a risk to health. It would be good to know the facts and reasons behind them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 I only know about the pigs really but I've also heard that about hens. I find the DEFRA site very difficult to get any info. out of - just links to reports I'm sure there must be something about it in Practical Poultry forum ? - I spent ages yesterday checking on possible casues for a poorly chicken - I daren't go back in there today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Oh no - does this mean that we can't sell our eggs to our neighbours if we feed them veg s"Ooops, word censored!"s? We are getting some ex-batts soon and Layla wants to have a little 'shop' on the drive on Saturday mornings. Why is it all so complicated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 i know where JellyB read that. I'll post the link because it seems to bemore than just if you plan to sell the eggs etc. Its laughable though http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4988 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Amazing. I really don't know what to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyB Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/by%2Dprods/wastefood/formerfoodstuffs-qa.htm#7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
