Shirl Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 I was told that if I feed corn to my girls then they will take longer to lay (don't know if that's because they're bantams and it's nearing winter). This was from an old boy that has been around birds for years. Is it true or just and old wives tale? Does everyone feed corn to their chooks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 Layers pellets contain exactly the right combination of goodies for optimal laying performance. Pure corn is only one part of that combination. You can feed it, but make sure that you give other things as well to give them a balanced diet. They will still lay - but maybe not as regularly. For maximum laying, feed layers feed alone. I think most people tend to feed layers supplemented with 'treats' of corn, mealworms etc, plus what they get when freeranging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarea1 Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 Hi there, I give my girls a couple of handfuls of mixed corn on an evening, I like to make a cuppa when I get home and go sit in the orchard and watch them scratching around. Mine have always layed fine, my new batt girls are off lay but they have had a big change in lifestyle, the original Omlet girls are laying fine. I think too much can make them fat. They can also only hold so much in their crop so it's best to give corn later in the day so they fill up on layers pellets which are a complete diet. Corn takes longer to digest and gives a steady source of energy for warmth through the cold nights of winter so is best given in the evening. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suandtim Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 I've just been given a large sack of maize from a neighbour who brings round sacks of corn unloaded from the boats at the nearby Port for us to use as chicken food - he said he wasn't sure whether or not maize was OK for the chooks, but remembers it being fed to chickens around here in the past. We use the corn as 'treats' when we get in from work, so they eat their pellets during the day, and I'm assuming maize will be fine for them as well, but hope someone here can confirn for me..... cheers all Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 I have a big plastic bin filled with a bag of corn,several large tubd of dried mealworms,& a few huge bags of Robin feed which is nuts & insect,all mixed up. They get a smattering of that in their run 2-3 times a week,on top of their layers pellets. I like it because it gives them something to scratch around for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 Oh, clarea1. Make sure you feed the chickens maize only when it is cold or later in the day. Maize heats the chickens up and well, can kill them. My neighbour made the mistake of cooking her chickens with sun and maize Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarea1 Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 I've never heard of that before? How does that happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 You're supposed to only feed chickens corn when they've started to lay, otherwise it makes them fat. I feed my two a little bit in the morning and some in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
