bevmatt Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) HI Everyone - I am really really passionate about what we feed hens so just felt i had to add my bit... You read so often people saying - we give our hens - yoghurt / honey / marmite / melons / grapes / tomatoes... the list goes on and on.. Can I ask what on earth is wrong with sticking to Layers pellets which has all the vitamins and nutrients in that a hen needs - some corn as a treat and grit? We have 100's of birds and have never had a prolapse / impacted crop / sour crop / soft shelled eggs... the list goes on.. Most of these problems come from an inbalanced diet. I sound like I am being cruel to my hens - we show them at the highest level and have won at Championship level - with the judges often asking "what on earth are you feeding your birds to get that shine..." Easy - straight forward good quality breeders pellets (I am not naming the brand we use as I don't want this to be seen as an advert more advice) Sometimes we kill our pets with 'kindness' its so sad when you see fat dogs struggling to walk down a road. So please if you really feel that you want to feed your birds other food limit it to minimal amounts (no more than an egg cup a day - think about the size of their crop) and feed it to them in the afternoon once they have had a proper feed of pellets... As a demo for sour crop - take a sandwich bag and put in what ever you feed your birds for the day mash it around and then empty - if the bag is clean then their crop will be clean over night - if the bag is full of slime that is what will be left in the crop the following day... this is what is going to cause problems. As for feeding dog and cat food to help with protein levels - I would really really avoid this - do you know what meat goes into cans of pet food? Do you really want to be eating it yourself? There you go got that off my chest. Bev xx Edited March 13, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I can tell you what goes into pet food cans.... that's why I feed my cats and dogs on a raw diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bevmatt Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I can tell you what goes into pet food cans.... that's why I feed my cats and dogs on a raw diet. And I bet their coats are lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 They are in prime condition, but that's another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Thats a really good post bevmatt (although I do feed my birds cat food.. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Mine thrive on pellets, what they can forage when out and about and a handful of corn to lure them back into their runs at night. I don't think they feel too badly done by. They haven't complained so far at any rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Same here, plus the odd windfall apple or plum in season. And woodlice! They go mad for woodlice when I am sorting the woodpile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 ok I'm guilty of ACTUALLY cooking them rice/pasta as a treat I'm also guilty of buying them their own cabbage/bag of spinach & they have their own bag of peas in my freezer and yes I popped into the fishing shop today and got them some maggots. I have now stopped giving them the bread s"Ooops, word censored!"s and am trying to be more healthy with them. & yes they have their own box of snacks...meal worms, dried insects etc If we have broccoli i will par boil the stalk for them and they just love grapes/apples/melon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
