[trappa]

Long story, but I recently had a lack of eggs so decided to stop giving them scraps and bread, and instead of plain corn i got a sack of the premium stuff and all went well BUT recently my hens have now decided to "cherry pick" the best of the mixed stuff and leave the plain corn!
Im now getting left with plain corn every night as they are only eating the sweetcorn bits and the other goodies leaving a right mess every night scattered across the floor, which will attract rats im sure.
Anyone else have this problem and what should i do?

[lost scouse]

hi trappa i was toold to stop feeding mixed corn and just feed laying pelletsand i have done for 6 months now ,then i got a new brand of layers and they would,nt eat it so my mate said to add water so know there eating it don,t know if this helps Degsy

[donnyc]

Cut the feed down ..Like dogs that pick, eat anything if hungry enough ..Mine were the same till I cut their food down now they eat the wheat no probs

[trappa]

Cheers! I thought they were just fussy little sods and now i know for sure! :D

[tomandroz]

Hi,

When my hens went on a dry spell, I changed them over to 'Layer's Mash' and it did the trick for us!

Best of luck,

Tom

[trappa]

Thanks again. I put them on layers pellets 2 days ago. They didnt touch the food yesterday and today they had had a little. Hopefully they will be eating properly tomorrow and the eggs should start rolling in !

[wiskers]

all you need to give them is the layers pellets
the are formulated so there is no need to give anythink else
only a good grit and some oyster shell as this grinds the feed
and makes it diegestable

[trappa]

Cheers mate. yes, thats what they are getting now, but the eggs havent started coming properly yet.
i went in the other evening and one was running around with a slow worm in its beak. im just wondering if they have been eating these as they are numerous in my allotment.

[iamduvern]

Mine have a feeder full of layers pellets in front of them at all times and any kitchen scraps plus mice from the traps and any old veg from the garden and a handful of grit every couple of days
They are laying a treat at the moment

[THE BEATNICK]

They are laying a treat at the moment. where are they getting the chocolate from .....sorry couldnt help myself.
[/quote]

[North Briton]

Chicken Feed

Everybody knows how to feed chickens, layers pellets and mixed grain is good enough for most people. In this as in all things there are relative comparisons of good, better and best.

Mixed grain and layers pellets may be enough for average chickens on a free range that can supply them with all the rest of the nutrients they need for health, but it certainly is not enough for birds in confinement. Everybody reading this did not get this far without knowing the needs of poultry - sufficient for the year on year production and feeding of their birds.

In this article we will look at basic needs and see how we can improve on these to move up the good, better and best nutrient chain.

Energy is the most important single factor required in poultry feeds. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are the three recognised sources of energy. Carbohydrates and fats are the primary sources. Protein is primarily a source of amino acids for building body tissue with its secondary function as energy. Corn, milo and wheat are the major sources of energy for poultry feed, oats and barley are medium to low energy. Energy not required for maintenance is used for growth and fattening. Maintenance requirements must first be met before growth or reproduction needs are supported. One use of high fibre, low protein, low energy rations is to reduce cannibalism in confined birds. Oats are excellent in reducing feather picking and cannibalism. The high fibre content of whole oats is an effective substitute for the lack of grass fibre in confinement. Corn lays down fat in the visceral cavity. Oats, wheat and barley lay down fat under the skin.

Carbohydrates are the major source of energy. Starches are the most common digestible polysaccharides in plants; it is present in the cells of grains, fruits and tubers. The three polysaccharides are starch, cellulose and glycogen. Glycogen is the only one of these of importance in poultry. This ‘animal starch’ is a storage carbohydrate found in small amounts in the liver and muscle cells, it regulates blood glucose levels and is a source of energy for the muscles. Starch is converted into glycogen in the body. Cellulose is not an available form of carbohydrate for poultry. Chickens do not produce enzymes which can digest cellulose. The gizzard grinds the particles of feed resulting in a well developed digestive tract. Cellulose helps control movement of food through the intestinal tract, aiding absorption. Ninety five percent of crude fibre is cellulose.

Protein is so important that no life can exist without it. It constitutes nearly half the body weight. Amino acids are the fundamental structural units of protein. Natural feeds contain many different types, each contain a different balance of amino acids, therefore different proteins are needed to balance each other, for example grains and peas each contain the essential amino acids that are missing in the other, the two of them together make a fully balanced protein. Animal proteins are generally more complete in amino acids than are vegetable proteins. A small amount of animal protein in the feed mix is better than just mixed grain. Young stock and breeding birds require more protein, vitamins and minerals than mature stock. The body cannot store amino acids, they must be fed daily as required. Amino acids also form hormones and enzymes.

A chicken will eat until their energy requirements are met. If a low protein, high energy ration is fed (corn) they will stop eating before consuming enough protein. If a higher protein, low energy ration is fed (oats) they will eat plenty of protein by the time they have eaten enough calories. Chickens require less energy and more protein as the environmental temperature increases, so in summer they want less total feed but higher protein and in winter more feed with lower protein. In cold climates, rations may be as low as twelve percent protein and up to eighteen percent in warm climates. Protein levels of over twenty percent become toxic to chickens.

By monitoring body flesh and fat, carbohydrate and protein levels can be regulated. If birds are thin breasted they need more protein, so increase peas and meat. If excess carbohydrate is fed it will be stored as fat, so feed more oats and less corn and wheat. Some example mixes would be:-

Protein percentages
Oats……………Wheat……………..Corn………………Peas……………..Dried Meat………………. Approx %
11%p………….9%p…………………8%p……………… 25%p……………..50%p………………………..protein
4 parts…………4 parts…………….1 part…………… 1 part…………….½ part………….. =………..13%p
3………………….3……………………..1………………….. 1……………………1……………………=………..16%p
3………………….2……………………..1………………….. 1……………………1……………………=………..17%p
2………………….2……………………..1………………….. 1……………………1……………………=…………18%p

All parts by weight

In the next Year Book we will look at the vitamins and minerals needed for better health and finally consider the various ways of introducing the trace elements found on free range, that are essential to best condition.

Our goal being the highest level of extreme health and vigour that it is possible to achieve.

………………………………………………..North Briton………………………………………………………………………

[DIDO.1]

Well that shut every one up NB!!!! :D

[trappa]

LOL