Chick Chick Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Hi, I've been doing some research in what is best to feed my hens and there seems to be a lot of choice from various forms of layers pellets to mixing your own feeds. I am not sure which approach is best for me so thought I would ask what people do here? Any advice appreciated thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Buying pellets is much much easier and you know its a balanced feed so no worries on that score. Get a good brand, people will give you all sorts of recommendations. I use Smallholders pellets as they are small and good for my bantams. I also found Marriages to be good. You can get mash as well, but many people find that messy and birds sometimes pick out the choicest bits. If you mix your own then you need to be clear what you are doing. I also use straight wheat as a scratch feed in winter - thats when you throw it on the ground and let them hoover it up. I only use it in winter, in the afternoon, for a bit of extra nutruition for them to keep them going and warmer overnight although its not really necessary. I also use wheat to tempt them back into the run. If its really cold in the winter (ice and snow) I sometimes mix their pellets with warm water to make a porridge slop, which they seem to like for breakfast, but again this is more to make me feel better than strictly necessary! Try to not use too much maize (corn) as it is fattening and can affect their laying abilities, although again it is useful to keep them warm and bribe them, especially if you can't get hold of wheat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 Thank you Daphne, thats very helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 I also feed my bantams on Smallholders layers pellets and I make them a pellet porridge at night with it - they love it!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 I feed my bantams marriages pellets. Layers when they are in lay and growers for youngsters or when they aren’t laying. I found they turned their beaks up at cheap, own brand pellets - so much so that they stopped laying - but were much happier to eat marriages with flubenvet at working time, so they’ve had them ever since. In addition they have a tiny handful of mixed corn at bedtime unless they’ve had other treats - sunflower hearts or live mealworms - which are also what I use when I need to put them back in their run. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Daffers is 'on point' there I also feed Smallholder pellets, I do occasionally add the following, just because I have it around: seaweed, cod liver oil, biotin. I occasionally get a bag of Dr Green's Co***** Layers Mash, which they really love. I feel that it's a bit rich though, so cut it in with the pellets. It's especially good at this time of year when they need extra support to re-feather and gain extra condition for the winter. Mine won't touch anything by Dodson & Horrell - they're not remotely fussy eaters, just consistently turn their beaks up at it. I also don't feed corn, but a mix from the local feed store of their duck and goose feed, with their poultry tonic seed mix - not fattening, but sufficiently tasty to get the little cluckers interested 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted October 21, 2018 Author Share Posted October 21, 2018 Thank you, I will stick with pellets then Will have a look at the brands you have mentioned as I just continued with what the breeder was using without really looking into whats in it too much. Also give them greens and treats which they love. 10 hours ago, The Dogmother said: Daffers is 'on point' there I also feed Smallholder pellets, I do occasionally add the following, just because I have it around: seaweed, cod liver oil, biotin. I occasionally get a bag of Dr Green's Co***** Layers Mash, which they really love. I feel that it's a bit rich though, so cut it in with the pellets. It's especially good at this time of year when they need extra support to re-feather and gain extra condition for the winter. Mine won't touch anything by Dodson & Horrell - they're not remotely fussy eaters, just consistently turn their beaks up at it. I also don't feed corn, but a mix from the local feed store of their duck and goose feed, with their poultry tonic seed mix - not fattening, but sufficiently tasty to get the little cluckers interested I haven't heard of poultry tonic seed mix before. Is it like a vitamin supplement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Love that c o a r s e set off the word sensor We feed Smallholder layers pellets here too. Occasional leafy greens from the veg patch but that mainly goes in the pond for the ducks to nibble at! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 10 hours ago, Chick Chick said: I haven't heard of poultry tonic seed mix before. Is it like a vitamin supplement? It's just a mix of wheat and seeds - mine really love it and it's not fattening. Here you go just found it Clicky That tickled me too Lewis - I guess it's the last 4 letters of the word 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 I saw and bought poultry tonic seeds for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The one I got had aniseed oil in and smelt lovely. Gang liked it too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share Posted October 22, 2018 Thanks, will have a look at those poultry tonic seeds, my hens do like a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 I've not seen the poultry tonic seeds either but I will keep an eye out for them. I used to buy mine Garvo chicken treats which were quite expensive so I now buy them a big sack of Garvo alfa mix chickens. It is a poultry food but I am using it as a treat instead. They like it very much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natspringy Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 Mine love garvo too! They get so excited. I use as a treat as well. Mine will only eat the omlet layers crumble although I do mix in with small holders crumble which is acceptable to them. Wish they'd just eat smallholders would be much simpler reordering! Mine have a bit of corn on cold days, the odd cabbage or greens for fun to jump at, raw eggs if in heavy moult and meal worms to get back in the run. Not all at once and reasonably sparingly. Mine once had too many treats and it took a lot of work to get them eating again so now treats are limited and only late in the day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 Mine do like the Garvo treats, I haven't tried the alfa mix though, will have a look at that. Think Im going to give the smallholders pellets a try as have found a feed store closer than the one I was using that sells that but not the one they are currently on, hopefully they will like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 If yours like Garvo, then try them on that Dr Green's co(a)rse mash - brackets to get around swear censor LOL. It's very similar and good quality. MUCH cheaper too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 Thanks Dogmother, I will give that a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
