Sooo much pooping

[Alis girls]

No this isnt in wrong subject - last year someone supplied a late night snack recipe for warm feed for cold nights for chickens. Its not in the winter section and there are a lot of newbies to chucks like me and I want to be prepared when temps do drop at night. I think the mash wash mixed with warm water and mealworms chucked in. Can someone please supply it or point me in right direction - thanks

[Alis girls]

please

[scarlettohara]

Make a mash with your pellets/mash (I use warm water) mix in some sultanas, mealworms (whatever your girls like and some people add poultry spice) and serve Another tip was giving a hot baked potato just before bedtime so they go to bed with nice warm tummies

[Redwing]

pellets mixed with warm water is good on cold mornings

 

Warm feed before bed is ok but doesnt stay warm in their tuns for long - corn fed before roosting time will keep the chicken warmer as their body has to work harder to digest it and this keeps them warmer at night

[Alis girls]

Thanks guys - I had a feeling I'd read about yoghurt being added but wasnt sure as didnt think they should eat it. I am sure I'm not the only one wanting to know this. many thanks

[CharLeila]

Hi, not a warm mash recipie but last winter I gave my girls porridge (morrisons value) in either warm water or milk if there was enough and mixed in some sultanas, mealworms, chopped carrot peelings. Chuck anything in really, my girls even had dried cranberries once! I like to treat them a bit nicer in the winter. I'd give it to them just before they went to bed so they had nice warm tummies.

 

Hope that one helps

[Lavenders_Blue]

Wow, I'm impressed with you lot I gave my girls absolutely nothing extra last winter and they did just fine. That said they are another year older now so I may treat them to a bag of corn for this winter to keep them warmer on the cold nights. Last of the big spenders, me!

[Egluntyne]

I gave my girls absolutely nothing extra last winter and they did just fine.

Ditto.

[C&T]

My OH makes the girls mash (pellets and hot water and whatever is lying around) most nights... The girls queue up at the back door waiting for it, and let him know quite loudly if he is late! (This is the same man who wanted nothing to do with the chooks when they arrived)

 

I have to keep telling him not to give them it everynight - as they then don't necessarily eat during the day waiting for their porridge!!

 

In the depths of winter, when they were snowed in, we made it with added Porridge Oats (making sure it is well soaked before giving it to them) hoping that would help keep them warmer over night. Whether it worked or not I have no idea!

[Alis girls]

Thanks again - amazing what the word please accomplishes. My friend says my animals are indulged - there are worse sins. I for one wouldnt fancy sleepin outside in last winters snow even if I was in an Eglu. i know chucks have been in drafty houses for years but what cost is a little help on a cold night. At least they are loved and give me pleasure. Everyone to their own I say. Many thanks guys - I am still very new to chuck keeping .

[Slim]

lard and wild bird mix / peanuts I make up. This builds up the fat reserves and gives bumper crops of eggs in the spring!! Just warm up lard mix in your seeds/ meal worms what ever then put in plastic cups leave to go hard give one a day.