2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Cocohoney]

Hi, this is my first post here, so hope I'm doing it right!

I have 3 girls, Missy, Totty and Sweetie, all bantam Wyandottes, we have had them 2 months. When they arrived two of them were laying, and one (Missy) was still too young (not much comb yet, I was told this is how to tell? She is this year's chick, the others later last year).

The two have laid well, pretty much every day then all of a sudden three days ago one of them stopped (I haven't been able to tell which yet). I have just changed food from organic layers pellets and some corn, to a different layers pellet. I also started giving them oyster shell, garlic flakes, some cracked maize and some millet daily.

I was told corn was not to be given to bantams?

They all seem healthy and happy- could it be the food change? To be honest they never seem to touch either of the layers pellets, which was my reason for changing brands. They also get lots of greens- a lettuce each day, sweetcorn, mashed potato, carrot tops etc. and they much prefer this. If I cut down on the other bits will they be more likely eat the layers pellets? Is it important that they do?

I have to go now but will be back later to check if anyone can answer, thanks

[Medwriter]

I would definitely suggest cutting down on the greens, etc.

 

For laying hens, they need the essential nutrients (protein, calcium for shell formation etc) in the layers pellets. If you cut down on the extras, they will eat more pellets. Try just giving sweetcorn or whatever as a 'teatime treat', to ensure that they eat plenty of pellets earlier in the day.

 

Hope this helps.

[Henchanted]

Hello Cocohoney

 

I know how tempting it is to give them tit-bits, like the ones you list, and to enjoy seeing them rush over excited at what you have brought them.

 

Sadly the more you give them the less they will eat of the layers pellets which are well balanced in giving them all the nutrition they need, bar some fresh grass/salad leaf.

 

As omnivores (people mistakenly think chickens are vegetarian) they need a good amount of protein (to be healthy and to make eggs) present in their pellets, meal-worms and any creepy crawllies they might find (earthworms, slugs etc) but (other than meal-worms) most foods given as treats are high in carbs and fats which are great in small amounts in cold weather and just before bedtime but if given too much they will eat these instead of the protein richer pellets etc.

 

So I would try

 

a) a day or 2 (or 5 ) without treats (they will not starve and will eat their pellets) making sure they have access to a good amount of mixed grit and fresh drinking water. As a green newbie I bought a giant sack of mixed corm not knowing that a 20 kg bag contains one thousand portions (sellers don't tell you this) which meant that it would take 3 hens just under a year to get through it and it expired in 3 months, but I decided to put it down to experience and moved on.

 

b) if you want to give small treats - stick to high protein treats like mealworms/ earthworms

 

c) if they are not free-ranging even short fresh grass and salad leaves are fantastic treats gor the vitamins and calcium

 

d) consider worming them, this is the main season for parasites (and consider retreating after one month to break the cycle) this may be the cause of vomiting- it happened with mine

 

Hope that helps too .

[Henergy]

I swopped feed a little while ago & both mine stopped laying for a week. They then started again - probably just their body adjusting to the different formula of minerals.

[Egluntyne]

It will be a combination of too many treats and the change of pellets. No need to over complicate your feeding regime, just cut back a bit.

 

Maybe if you leave them in the run with just pellets and water for a a little longer than you are doing at the moment, and then allow free ranging and treats later in the day.