jameslcfc Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hi guys, i am into my first week with my girls and all seems to be going ok. I have started to give them supper around 19:30 consisting of fresh corn, mealworm and a few grains. I mix this all in a normal metal dish and give it to them. They love it. I was wondering how much im supposed to feed them though? I have been giving them about a good egg cup full each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) Lucky girls, that sounds tasty! My 4 have probably an egg cup each full of mixed corn every evening. They only occasionally have corn on the cob (which I hang up in their run during the day - mainly if I know they're going to be shut in for longer than normal) or mealworms. I would say that what your girls are getting is fine, but others may say different Edited August 20, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslcfc Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Is canned corn ok for chickens as i dont want to keep buying corn on the cob? I also have a mixed grain with dried corn in it, is that what you call mixed grain? Total amateur i know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 My lot get about four handfuls of mixed corn between 40 of them. When it was very hot they just had their pellets as corn is heating. I also hang cabbages in the run for them. Too many treats will make them fat and fat hens don't lay eggs. They don't really need treats everyday although they will do their best to convince you that they do. Good luck with your new girls, you will learn things as you go along. I've had hens for 5 years and am still learning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Every night at bedtime my three girls get half a corn cob in their coop. I also put pellets and water in the coop overnight. I think that is frowned on but has worked for me. On occasion I give them canned corn which they love but I don't often buy it. I don't have a system but do give them some extra treats if they haven't been in the garden. Mine are pets for pets sake but at 5 yrs old they are still laying pretty well so I'm happy to give them treats that make them smile (at least they would if chickens had lips) Just follow your gut feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Now the temps have dropped to 10 here I give mixed grain as in a small bucket a night but I have 30 girls and 2 enormous boys so... Canned corn is fine, they love that! Mine would love canned corn every night if possible but unless I win the lottery.... Chickens will try it on, as I find any chance they get. If I have taken treats out the back door, be it cherry toms, corn on cob in the past, then every time you exit their brains are trained to equate you with 'goodies'! Whether u have them or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Mine have got me trained well... I still have holiday, but have up at 6 every morning to let them out and feed them a small hand of mixed corn thrown in a patch with some dirt... I do this in zombie mode and go back to bed after and sleep for a bit more. I think they can sense when I'm done with dinner and demand to know what I had... Otherwise I give them some broccoli, a few grapes from my own grape (still sour, but they don't mind) and sometimes I fill their treat ball with some corn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 We buy packets of the cheapest supermarket sweet corn for the girls and the better stuff for ourselves. This makes it easy to just thaw a handful in some hot water to give with/as their supper (or frozen in very hot weather) and is less hassle and expense than fresh cobs or tinned. some of ours have got the hang of eating dangling cobs but others seem them as scary aliens to be avoided at all costs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 I've an awful feeling I have over indulged chickens who get far too much treats. Igive them 3 or 4 handfuls of scratch most days - I have 12 in total. they also get pasta, rice and other veggies that don't get eaten. my 7 girls that are laying are giving me 3-4 eggs a day. 3 of them are 2 1/2 years old and the other 4 are 18 months. Maybe I am fattening them up too much How do you know if your hens are fat??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
