Sooo much pooping

[Smiler33]

Spot the newbie question !

 

I put layers pellets in the Grub but am not sure that they've quite cottoned on to it yet - Peckish and Tikka have, not sure about the others.

 

I also threw a handful onto the woodchips this morning and that's all gone. When I went out earlier they were just scratching around in the chips and most of the pellets on the floor had gone - do they just eat as much as they want and then leave it? Also, will the less high ranking birds get to make their way to the Grub to have a decent bit of pellets? I wonder if they'd be better with one of those plastic feeders that they can all get to?

 

Oh dear, I'm such a novice

[docsquid]

I thought they weren't eating enough when I first got them. Are yours laying? They will certainly eat more when they are laying.

 

I have three, and all three could quite happily eat at the grub. However I have taken to making a mash for them in the mornings - pellets or crumb with a bit of corn, some mealworms, a little bokashi bran, some poultry spice and a few treats (e.g. grapes, sultanas, raisins or anything else they like), mixed up with hot tap water so it is warm for them. They devour this from an old enamel dish, again, happy to be all together. They top up from the grub during the day. Gwennie prefers the grub pellets and eats more of them than the other two.

 

We also throw a few mealworms down on their half of the garden for them to peck at, but otherwise they FR all day and just find their own stuff. DH undermines my attempts not to spoil them by giving them grapes!

 

I think they do self-regulate, but they might not like the pellets that you are giving them - mine love ex-batt crumb even though they don't know what a battery is.

[Smiler33]

Thanks Docsquid - only Betsy has laid yet as the other 3 are a bit younger.

 

I think I need to go out shopping for them for some mealworms (), bran etc and try a little warm mash like you said. They seem to be eating the pellets I'm giving them (Farmgate Layers Pellets) but just not very much. Mind you, I am probably comparing them with the amount my horse used to eat !

 

Sam didn't eat all his cereal this morning so they'll get some soggy Corn Flakes and Cheerios after lunch - I've read not to give it to them first thing. I've just been out and checked them, 2 are resting and 2 have pecked through the woodchips and are happily eating grass.

 

Sooooo much to learn!

[docsquid]

Sooooo much to learn!

 

I know how you feel - I've only had the chooks since October and am still on the steep bit of the learning curve!

 

I love them to bits though!

[Daphne]

Don't worry about your Qs - we were all newbies once! You should keep an eye on them to make sure they are all actually eating - although they probably are OK, not many chooks will wilfully starve themselves! If you're not about this week, make an effort to do it at the weekend then you'll know whats going on. They may not be used to the Grub so I'd carry on with a couple of alternatives as well - I often use an ex-cat/dog bowl/saucer. They may not be used to your food brand (ideally when switching brands you do it gradually and mix the old with the new). Also, it is possible that top hen/s are bullying others out of the way - using more than one food station will stop this. You do the right thing to feed pellets/mash - they need a balanced diet more than the treats. Most hens will kill for mixed corn, and it is good as a small pre-bed scratch feed to keep them warmer in the cold, get them in if they're free-ranging, although the maize in mixed corn is fattening and can reduce laying so don't go mad. Also hens shouldn't be fed milk.