Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 just made up a batch ith some raisins, sultanas and little bit of olive oil but it does look sticky- are you sure it's ok to give to them? It won't bung up their crops and cause problems will it? I've read on here that some of you give it to your girls but it does look gloopy! I made it with milk, was that right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I usually make it with hot water as some birds find milk a bit sticky. Funnily enough I made my girls some this morning after looking at the frost out there. I think we all just use whatever is to hand - mine had pellets, eggshell, raisins, olive oil, citricidal and oats this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 will the stuff I made be ok to give them though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 should i do another batch with water do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktdot Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I usually add hot water to the oats and stir it in. I don't bother cooking it. Then just bung in anything else I think they might like. I'm not sure if they can have milk. I'm fairly new to all this too, so learning all the time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 damn, i can't even eat the batch i made cos it's got olive oil in- I'll make another batch with water- we live and learn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 made some with water and bunged in more raisins and sultanas and about a tsp of olive oil- accidentally licked my finger when dishing it up and nearly barfed! Just leaving it to cool before taking it out to them. Still looks a bit gloopy, hope it's okay. Gawd, I'm never having children! I worry about everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 i make mine for the chooks with warm water from the tap & just swish the oats around in it. I do make it runny, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 after all that, they all came rushing, took one sniff and turned their backs. I think they thought I was coming with sweetcorn! Maybe they'll try it in a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 i make mine for the chooks with warm water from the tap & just swish the oats around in it. I do make it runny, though. i thought if I didn't cook it properly then the oats would swell up in their crops so i cooked it a little bit. It's all new to me and I'd hate to make them ill (or worse) by doing something stupid. They haven't touched it yet, maybe I'll try next time by just adding the hot water instead of cooking it!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Sorry, missed all this, I make min eup with hot water and leave itto stand and soak for about half an hour before giving it to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Hi - the first time I gave my porridge they looked at me as if I was about to poison them but when I fished out individual raisins for them and gave them those first (what we do for our chickens, eh?) they ate those first and then tucked into the rest when I turned my back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 i won't end up hurting them with gloopy porridge will I??? It's just when I read on here that people gave their chickens porridge, I thought you meant proper porridge, not just oats soaked in warm water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I cook mine in the microwave with water, then leave it to stand until it's just warm, by which time it is quite thick. The girls love it. Has anyone thought about compiling a book of recipes for chooks treats? It would be a real winner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I cook mine in the microwave with water, then leave it to stand until it's just warm, by which time it is quite thick. The girls love it.Has anyone thought about compiling a book of recipes for chooks treats? It would be a real winner! or why not have a sticky in this forum with favourite treats and/or recipes- I, as a newbie to this chicken keeping, would find it INVALUABLE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktdot Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Hi - the first time I gave my porridge they looked at me as if I was about to poison them but when I fished out individual raisins for them and gave them those first (what we do for our chickens, eh?) they ate those first and then tucked into the rest when I turned my back! Mine were like that first time I gave them cooked veg peelings! They still pick out all the nice bits first but it does all get eaten by the time they go to bed. I think they do it to see if you'll go back in and get them something better!! They've cottoned on to what suckers we are for our girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Porridge sounds like an excellent idea. I think I shall try that with my girls. I've been giving them their layers pellets soaked in warm water when it's been cold but they give me filthy looks and they certainly don't eat it all. I thought that between 3 of them they would wolf it down (and I haven't done a huge amount) but it's always there in the evening so I bring it back in and throw it out. They won't eat them dry so I usually end up leaving the grub full of corn for them and the pellets mashed up in a separate bowl. Does anyone have any other ideas to try. I do worry (too much sometimes) when they don't seem to be eating enough. They have their sweetcorn and cooked veg in the afternoon but obviously the pellets are a main part of their diet. Any ideas would be gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 My girls will kill for spaghetti and cherry tomatoes! They are hilarious with the spaghetti and will jump quite high to snatch it from you. They like all pasta - but if you give them tricolor pasta, they eat the natural stuff first then the green and the orange as a last resort! They also love rice with peas and sweetcorn mixed in. Spoilt? Never!! I actually bought one of those pasta express things just to cook their spaghetti in. My mum thought I'd finally gone bonkers when she visited and I was cooking pasta just for the chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flo Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 The first time I gave my girls porridge (they got soaked in a thunder storm) they were not too sure what to make of it. Now they demand it in the morning. I usually make mine with oats and water, cook them up and then leave it to cool. If it is too thick I mix in some cold water so that it is a bit more runny. I had to get two little feeders that attached to the run as they fight over it. I also don't put too much out as Mabel is really greedy, eats the lot and has a large wobbly crop! If I let them out first thing and don't give them any porridge they get very cross indeed. I might try putting rasins in it next time! Flo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Our girls usually get a bowl of warm poridge before they go to bed. We make it with hot water (chickens are lactose intolerant) with raisons, corn, and grit in. They love it!!!! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Ok I'm worried now. I give my chickens a plate of dry porridge oats, they love them. Is this wrong? Should I be adding water? They seem fine and all lay every day, but I don't want to do them harm Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Ok I'm worried now. I give my chickens a plate of dry porridge oats, theylove them. Is this wrong? Should I be adding water? They seem fine and all lay every day, but I don't want to do them harm Tessa you sound like me except I was worried it was too gloopy, what are we like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Jojoo If you leave a grub full of corn they won't eat the pellets...take it away and give mixed corn as a treat in the afternoon (if they eat too much corn they will get fat and if they get fat they won't lay, or so I am led to believe). Also they need to pellets for the vitamins etc. If there is nothing else on offer they will eat them.... My girls were very suspicious of porridge at first (they did not like the way it stuck to their beaks) but they soon learnt that its OK and now they wolf it down . I make mine in the microwave, just oats with water and mix in a bit of poultry spice and raisins if I am feeling generous.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Poet wrote you sound like me except I was worried it was too gloopy, what are we like! I worry all the time about my chooks, I can't remember worrying so much about my children I suppose we sort of 'know' what to do with tiny humans, with chickens it's one big new learning experience Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Dried 'bulking' foods like bread and oats need soaking in water before feeding - they have a tendency to sit in the crop, block it and start to ferment. This isn't common, but best avoided if you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...