Storms and chickens

[nannyhenny]

Our six hens have a large run but no access to grass. I do give them greens but they don't always eat them. I saw two products in the local farm shop where I buy their feed; Dengie Grass Pellets and Dengie Meadow Grass with Herbs. Both are intended for horses but could they be fed to hens as a fresh grass substitute?

The pellets are described as 100% naturally grown meadow grass in pellet form, can be fed dry or soaked.

The Meadow Grass is 'chopped, lightly dressed with cold pressed rape seed oil, mixed with grass pellets and topped with a blend of liquorice root, fennel, mint, chamomile and aniseed'.

Has anyone tried these or what do folk think?

[Luvachicken]

Sorry to say I have only used Dengie Fresh Bed before with very bad consequences.

2 of my girls needed expensive operations for totally blocked crops having eaten the bedding.

I'm not sure I would ever trust a Dengie product for my girls again although others may have had more positive outcomes.

 

To be honest mine are in a run all the time too.

They get the odd bit of dandelion, some broccoli and an occasional cauliflower outer.

They don't get any other greenery but they do have Garvo layers pellets and seem to lay delicious eggs on that diet.

[Cat tails]

I wouldn't bother either. Mine get some shredded endive every morning. But only as a "shut-your-beak-because-neighbours-like-sleep" bribe.

They get they occasional broccoli, garden waste/clippings and windfall pears.

[mullethunter]

When mine had no grass I used to pick them massive bunches whenever I passed some.

[Chickabee]

I don't think they need grass pellets. Few bits of veg, windfall fruit, dandelion leaves. Fresh is much better. Those pellets probably don't have a lot of the sugars and antioxidants that are good anyway, I think they're meant for laminitis prone horses. Or horses/ponies with cushins disease, where sugars have to be carefully monitored

[BridieLou]

Do you have any lawn elsewhere? Ours are on on earth so they don't have any grass either. But we mow the lawn every week or two and throw huge handfuls of freshly cut grass into their run. They devour it.

 

Otherwise just green veg as the others have suggested. They seem happy enough with no supplements.

[Luvachicken]

You could always grow them something.

Feathers and Beaky used to sell packets of special grass seed that you sow on a tray of gravel.

When it is the right height you give it to them to eat.

[The Dogmother]

I would steer clear of it and use fresh greens - dark greens are better. Grab some Fat Hen form a verge where there is plenty, stick it in the garden and you'll have plenty next year. Tree Spinach is the same family and very pretty too. Both are very nutritious.

[nannyhenny]

Thank you everybody. I think I got a bit worried because all the info says hens must have greens and I can't get my current girls to bother with dandelions or even cabbage, although hens I've had before ate them ok. We do throw grass cuttings in when we mow the lawn.

Is there any problem with hens not eating greens? Should I look for a supplement or are pellets ok on their own?

[mullethunter]

As long as they're on good quality pellets, they'll provide all the nutrients they need.

[nannyhenny]

Thank you.