Different diet???

[Nicos]

I'm a bit confused as to what to feed my gals and guys- and hoping you can suggest what you'd do????

The gals stopped laying about 9 weeks ago when they started sitting on their eggs.
At that time they didn't eat any porridge- just layers pellets and oats and a bit of maize . I did offer them warm porridge with Spice in it- (but left out the powdered eggshell as they weren't laying) but they didn't want it

One of them has started laying again - and I understand the other 3 should start fairly soon ( babies are 7 and 5 weeks).

Now what I'm wondering about ( cos I'm not so bothered about the babies just now) is .....are you still feeding porridge?????
How can I get the gals to eat their spice and powdered eggshells again???
Do you feed porridge up until the summer- or what???? ..then what???( they certainly don't need the mash for the warming effect- just as a medium for extra calcium and vits/minerals)

Ta !

[chicken slave]

I must admit I stopped feeding porridge as my girls had expanding waistlines. I just mix the spice in the the layer pellets (spray them with a fine mist of water first). This is doing them well and they are all eating and laying fine.
Remember fat girls do not lay.

[lynda66]

mine are still on pellets made into a mash, cos they don't like the pellets dry so i just chuck stuff in with them when theres things available

[Nicos]

Awww...Lynda!!!!...thanks for joining in....how are your babes getting along????lots of sunbathing I hope!!!!

Mixed in with layers pellets then- maybe a nice afternoon snack so I can check the gals are getting their share!

[Glutton4...]

I confess I gave up faffing about with mash and porridge as soon as the weather warmed up! They now get their pellets in a hopper, and I just put Poultry Spice and Limestone Flour in with it - they seem to get what they need, as the egg-shells are much more consistent now than they were originally.

One is moulting (at last) the rest all have lovely fluffy bloomers and glossy feathers, and they get loads of grass, which probably helps. Also I have cut down their corn in the afternoons now, as I've been chucking worms in for them when I've been digging, and I'm worried that they'll explode!

I didn't think they would over eat, but seeing how they behave when there's a worm within reach I'm not so sure.

[kirsty b]

I'm quite lazy now, was pretty good about warm food every day in winter but now they only get their pellets.
Food leftovers and peelings get thrown in my big pot now until there is enough for a batch and then I'll do them one.

[MaureenHall]

I stopped giving mine porridge when it stopped being icy in the mornings They get poultry spice and garlic powder and crushed egg shells in with any afternoon treats, mashed potato, rice etc

[lynda66]

so how do i get mine to eat dry pellets?? they just look at me like i'm stoopid and walk off lol ... have tried leaving it all day but they just don't touch em other than the occasionmal root usually all over the floor ....to see if i've hidden anything underneath ... i got sick of the waste

they are doing really well, they've eaten at least half my strawberry plants and found my corn seedlings the other day, and they like the new growth on the fruit bushes, and chasing the cats and playing fetch with the dogs ball .... in between sunbathing and helping me dig .... today they discovered the way into next doors garden .... so new gate going up tomorrow, coco is getting very loud and i'm expecting a knock at the door any second cos of him crowing ..... other than that they are finally getting their adult feathers and looking very pretty and enjoying the sunshine

[davefromthechipie]

so how do i get mine to eat dry pellets?? they just look at me like i'm stoopid and walk off lol ... have tried leaving it all day but they just don't touch em other than the occasionmal root usually all over the floor ....to see if i've hidden anything underneath ... i got sick of the waste

they are doing really well, they've eaten at least half my strawberry plants and found my corn seedlings the other day, and they like the new growth on the fruit bushes, and chasing the cats and playing fetch with the dogs ball .... in between sunbathing and helping me dig .... today they discovered the way into next doors garden .... so new gate going up tomorrow, coco is getting very loud and i'm expecting a knock at the door any second cos of him crowing ..... other than that they are finally getting their adult feathers and looking very pretty and enjoying the sunshine

lynda66 Because of you i have 4 chicks and more on the way in a day or 2 .
and 18 more in the incu thinking the 1st wouldnt hatch >< i love and hate you at the same time ..joke..
You could try mixing in littler water over a month making it dryer and dryer each day till its 100% dry ? well thats all i can think off

[lynda66]

i've tried putting them in a drish mix, but unless they are soggy they just dig everything out, when it's all wet, they eat everything .... anyway tis not my fault, honest lol

[MaureenHall]

i've tried putting them in a drish mix, but unless they are soggy they just dig everything out, when it's all wet, they eat everything .... anyway tis not my fault, honest lol

That's the reason I stopped giving the babies wet mash when they were 5 days old Ok, so they chuck the dry stuff around a bit but they eat it eventually. I must admit though that I also got fed up of them paddling in the food, then the water then back to the food! Anyway they've been out in the garden this last couple of afternoons in their dog-cage and discovered the delights of grass, worms, slugs and the rice that I accidentally dropped into the cage for them

Sorry if I've highjacked the thread - I'm always doing that!!!

[davefromthechipie]

That's the reason I stopped giving the babies wet mash when they were 5 days old Ok, so they chuck the dry stuff around a bit but they eat it eventually. I must admit though that I also got fed up of them paddling in the food, then the water then back to the food! Anyway they've been out in the garden this last couple of afternoons in their dog-cage and discovered the delights of grass, worms, slugs and the rice that I accidentally dropped into the cage for them

Sorry if I've highjacked the thread - I'm always doing that!!!

im sorry too for the off topic but out of panic ...Am i supposed to be feeding my chicks wet food ?
I have dry chick crumb in there they are eating that & the odd bit of wood in the bedding >< should i wet it ?

[lynda66]

mine loved dry chick crumbs, but when i started giving them liquidised veg mixed in they preferred it, so i made everything wet, rod for own back or summat lol ... just seems a waste for them to chuck it everywhere, maybe i need a different kind of feeder, i had one they couldn't scratch out (trough with things over) when they were ikkle but its too small now .... so no dave dry chick crumbs is fine