norm Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Still all a bit new to this. The girls (and 1 boy) are 14 weeks old so planning for their layers pellets. So far I've just been proving growers pellets all day and throw a bit of grit into coop every now and then. Can I do the same with the layers pellets (plus some Oyster grit). Would they gorge themselves? We let them out for a stomp around the garden for a few hours most days. I see most folk give them 'treats' of corn etc in the afternoon, but then warn about not to much as it's rich. Not wishing to seem mean, is this really necessary or is it just us soppy Brits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Mine chickens have all day access to pellets. They free range all day so I don't provide extra grit. There is some in the pellets and they pick up plenty scratching around. I give treats in the way of a handful of corn a day and the odd mealworm or corn on the cob. That is really to make me feel good and to make them love me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracker57 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Hi, Im fairly new too, but Ive found that I just supply some layers pellets in the grub holder, just incase they get hungry. But they free range all day and most of the time don't tend to eat them. I also give them a few meal worms every now and again, some porridge on cold mornings (which they love) and corn if they've been extra good!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeky girls Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Help - I think I must be spoiling my 4 girls. They get treats every afternoon! (I am sure there are those of you that are scorning me now) I have picked up various ideas from the forum regarding what treats they can have and from the extensive list, assumed that they can have these fairly regularly.. Not that I am giving them EVERYTHING on the list! That would just be stupid. An average would be about 6 grapes cut up, a palmful of corn and an inch of cucumber cut into little cubes. At the weekend I tied a bunch of spring greens to hang from the run and they demolished the lot by the next day. Opinions (good or bad) would be most welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy-Deb Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hi cheeky girls. If you are spoiling your girls then I am falling into same trap too. Been giving pellets in day and then some treats at tea time everday. I am interested too to read others comments on this topic. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenopolis Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I give mine WAY too many treats! They are never really interested in the layers mash that I put in their Grub in the run, but put mash in a nice porcelain bowl, they woof it down (and then stand in the bowl and tip the bowl over..). Every morning mine get a few mealworms (which they now expect as they stand by the kitchen door and chat at me until I give in). I also put in a small little bowl that I attach to the run (as I work full time and leave them all day in the run) some sweetcorn, cut up grapes, some more mealworms, sometimes a small cherry tomato and a few salad leaves. I hang a cabbage up in the run once a week (alright twice a week).... No wonder they don't eat "chicken food". But having said that, my girls are well feathered (a tad on the large side.... ), they are happy when they are free-ranging, I get an egg from each girl every day,so far, fingers crossed, apart from the occasional soft egg they have been very healthy. I just can't resist their little faces when the come into the kitchen and sit by the fridge talking away to me - we have a really good chat, we put the world to rights and that can't be a bad thing. When I was undergoing IVF last year, they were such a brilliant distraction from how I was feeling, so I would say, yes I give my girls way too many treats, but as long as they are healthy, who cares!!!!! Don't worry about it, is my advice. Sarah xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeky girls Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Sarah - fair comment.. I have a slightly overweight labrador (what lab owner doesn't) and was concerned that the girls would go the same way. NOT that it is a problem - she is certainly not obese - although dogs do tend to look like their owners (voluptous is the word I like) My girls haven't been out of the run yet because I am out at work - they came to live with us on the 13th Sept and we are still learning. They would love to free range because when I open the run to GIVE THEM THEIR TREATS they make a bid for freedom - well, head for the fresh grass anyway. Soon, I will feel brave enough and just go for it. So, general conclusion is if we are all happy just go for it.. Am loving your attitude, thanks .......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I give mine WAY too many treats! They are never really interested in the layers mash that I put in their Grub in the run, but put mash in a nice porcelain bowl, they woof it down (and then stand in the bowl and tip the bowl over..). Every morning mine get a few mealworms (which they now expect as they stand by the kitchen door and chat at me until I give in). I also put in a small little bowl that I attach to the run (as I work full time and leave them all day in the run) some sweetcorn, cut up grapes, some more mealworms, sometimes a small cherry tomato and a few salad leaves. I hang a cabbage up in the run once a week (alright twice a week).... No wonder they don't eat "chicken food". But having said that, my girls are well feathered (a tad on the large side.... ), they are happy when they are free-ranging, I get an egg from each girl every day,so far, fingers crossed, apart from the occasional soft egg they have been very healthy. I just can't resist their little faces when the come into the kitchen and sit by the fridge talking away to me - we have a really good chat, we put the world to rights and that can't be a bad thing. When I was undergoing IVF last year, they were such a brilliant distraction from how I was feeling, so I would say, yes I give my girls way too many treats, but as long as they are healthy, who cares!!!!! Don't worry about it, is my advice. Sarah xx What a fab post Sarah, love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Have to say, as soon as we let our girls out of a morning, they run straight to their Grub and stand there chomping away! They seem to like their food which is this one from Omlet https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken+Keeping&sub=Food+and+Food+Scoops&product_id=2230&product_name=Organic+Omlet+Chicken+Feed+10kg They only get their treats in the afternoon.... sweetcorn definately seems a firm favourite, which last weekend the girls even took from my hand - I had half a cob in each hand with one pecking away at each The poultry corn also seems another favourite, along with banana, raisens, greens, plain cheerios... I'm sure there's other things too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 It isn't a good idea to over do the treats. Fat hens don't lay as they say. Treats are best given at most, once a day, in the late afternoon, so that they have had the optimum nutrition from their pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I made my girls some mash with their pellets when it was wet at the weekend, which they love. Thought I would treat them with som raisins on top as I had seen suggested somewhere (they go crazy for grapes), but when I went back later, all the porridge gone and just raisins left in the bottom of the bowl. Seems they weren't impressed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I made my girls some mash with their pellets when it was wet at the weekend, which they love. Thought I would treat them with som raisins on top as I had seen suggested somewhere (they go crazy for grapes), but when I went back later, all the porridge gone and just raisins left in the bottom of the bowl. Seems they weren't impressed! what they like hey Clairey! I'd keep trying them - they may not have 'realised' how tasty they are as yet! For instance ours now love Cheerios on a string - but it took them a week or so before they realised they were food! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 There are some great ideas on here for things to feed my chickens for a treat, which I had never thought about - cheerios being an example. I wonder if they like other cereal, like weetabix? At the moment I give mine a small amount of chopped up veg and/or rice in the morning, (the pellets are on tap) they seem to be getting the hang of things and are eating some cabbage, although they prefer tomatoes, and seem to quite like cooked carrots. Then they have a few dried mealworms as their afternoon treat, and a handful of corn just before they go to bed. I try to keep treats in moderation, but it's so funny watching our Lucky run across the lawn if she thinks there is a sniff of a mealworm, that its rather tempting to keep dipping into the bag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeky girls Posted October 8, 2010 Share Posted October 8, 2010 I have now added CHEERIOS to my shopping list - this seems to be a favourite. I was late working yesterday and it was dark by the time I got home. OH had to gather the eggs (2 every day - not sure if it's the same 2 that are laying or if they take it in turns and alternate laying) He then dutifully gave them what he considered to be treats - four cabbage leaves and a handful of corn - suffice to say, a lot of the greens were trampled under foot. What can I say - they obviously missed the feminine touch. Apparently, they were a bit grumpy too. Well - I'm off to find some string to thread the cheerios on.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I was reading Practical Poultry the other day. I love giving my girls treats but as I was reading the magazine informed me that treats should only be a once weekly thing since even though the hens will happily eat it all the treats aren't too healthy for them. They put it in a way for understanding. Think about chocolate yes it is lovely and you would eat it everyday if you could but it doesn't make a healthy diet. So I don't know about treats now. I am giving them it once a week as stated. But people can take the information and do what they wish with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I'm not so sure that I would give Cheerios if I'm honest. The list of ingredients is a bit Whole Grain Cereal Grains (77.8%)(Whole Grain Oats, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Barley, Whole Grain Rice, Whole Grain Maize), Sugar, Partially Inverted Brown Sugar Syrup, Wheat Starch, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate, Colours: Carotene, Annatto and Caramel; Antioxidant: Tocopherols. Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamin C, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin (B2), Thiamin (B1), Folic Acid (Folacin), Vitamin B12, Calcium Carbonate and Iron The items highlighted in red look a bit worrying, and hens certainly don't need extra sugar or salt. In fact, they can be harmful in sufficient quantities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Yes I wouldnt feed those and be very careful with string as chooks love to eat anything that looks like a worm - string, wire and silicone sealant included Hens like a little variety but we shouldnt foster the concept of what we as humans think they need or think makes them 'happy' they are just chickens after all! I introduce the variety in how they are fed so scatter plain wheat for them to scratch for (if you only scatter a bit they should find it all and leave no residue for rats) or peg some greens up for them Too many treats arent good for hens, I indulge mine every now and again but as a rule they get little extra and are perfectly healthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeky girls Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Whoa - so much advice and so diverse . I must admit, treat should mean treat. Maybe I should consider just a couple of times a week with a handful of corn later in the afternoons. It is so easy to indulge those that you love I think, but point taken - sense and reason in everything. I couldn't be bothered to string up cheerios anyway.. Once the darker nights come along the treats would stop until weekends a lot of the time anyway so maybe best not to indulge too much so that they're not disappointed later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 I probably overdo the corn a bit as i use it to get them back into the run when they've been out. and they get s"Ooops, word censored!"s of fruit like my apple peelings. but what makes me laugh the most is not that we give them treats but that we do food preparation for them! I cut up ther treats, someone else said they give them chopped up grapes, we make them porridge... etc etc! my grandparents must be spinning in their graves laughing their heads off at me. i love my chickens. and they deserve it. so there nan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie9946 Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 I made my girls some mash with their pellets when it was wet at the weekend, which they love. Thought I would treat them with som raisins on top as I had seen suggested somewhere (they go crazy for grapes), but when I went back later, all the porridge gone and just raisins left in the bottom of the bowl. Seems they weren't impressed! How do you make mash with pellets?? Do you just crush it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
