Chickens

[hammerman]

Got 3 welsummer hens...all laying an egg a day. In a nice big run with a coop. fed on layers pellets, a bit of mixed corn and any extras we can find.

The problem is, what extras do you feed yours on ? I always add some bread which they can take or leave and they don't seem fussy over strawberries from the garden or tomatoes. I fed them some willow herb yesterday and they loved it but i wan't to give them some extras to keep them happy. Obviously im cautious with too much green stuff (salad).

What do yours eat ?

[wildwood]

A handful of wheat per day for 3 hens will go down well. Any worms/insects are greedily eaten, this can be replicated with a bit of mince or thin strips of meat.

[Clanad]

Don't forget to feed them some grit for digestion. Perhaps your "run" has sufficient small gravel or sand but if not be sure to feed some. Feel the crop at the base of the throat to feel how full it is. It should be somewhat lumpy as well. Additionally, since they're laying hens, feed some crushed oyster shell for the calcium... not only does it strengthen the egg shell but also they're bones. Don't however, feed oyster shell to chicks...

[Kleiber]

Welsummers are lovely, aren't they? That was the first breed of chicken that we ever kept. Going back to your question, I give mine a lot of veggie scraps from the kitchen - bits of pepper, tomato, lettuce, fruit (not citrus, but they love overripe bananas& apple cores), stale bread. I don't give them potato peelings, unless cooked (bung them in the microwave & cook as you would your own spuds!) or onions, but garlic is good for them. They love dandelions, too and clover. As far as the meat thing goes, I don't feed mine meat, but once a little robin got into the hen house & I couldn't get it out. All that was left in the morning was a wing! They'll kill & eat mice, too. Kx

[spam_face]

Ours love grapes, but think that could work out quite costly..