[trappa]

Ive gone for it now and got myself 6 hens! :clapper:
After endless soul searching and deliberation i decided upon 3 light sussex and 3 marans. They are locked up in the shed and enclosed run for now, will give it a day or two for them to settle before i let them have the rest of their area as a run.
What is the usual to give them in food? ie a handful of corn/pellets per bird or what? once they have free reign of the garden they will find lots of grubs etc for themselves, but what would be the right amount for this weekend?
cheers trappa
ps pics WILL follow ;)

[diggory]

get yourself down to your local farm supplies,they should do a sack of chicken mix,bit of everything in it :) :)

[trappa]

Ye i saw that, i got a sack of corn and a sack of pellets but just not sure of how much each bird will eat while locked in. cheers

[Sighthound]

Handful each and a few for luck should keep them going until you let them out :D
Also don't forget the grit and shell (usually already mixed in with the grit if shop bought hen grit)

[jackoleeds]

:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: good going pal, i bet you can't wait for your first boiled egg

[louis123]

doesnt really matter how much you feed them pal as long as they have enough they arnt like dogs who just eat for the say of it..they only eat when theyre actually hungry atb louis

[aaronpigeonplucker]

also give any scraps from the kitchen to them as well

[essexjed]

jus brought two myself, great to have a couple of hens in the garden, just keep an eye out for charlie or you wont have to worry about feeding them.. :icon_eek:

[harrycatcat]

Trappa, I have one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.u...A1%7C240%3A1318 under a wooden frame (so they dont sh*t in it) with layers pellets in and then they have fresh water everyday with greens at lunch time.

How old are yours ??????

[comanche]

trappa, on Apr 10 2009, 05:43 PM, said:

Ive gone for it now and got myself 6 hens! :clapper:
After endless soul searching and deliberation i decided upon 3 light sussex and 3 marans. They are locked up in the shed and enclosed run for now, will give it a day or two for them to settle before i let them have the rest of their area as a run.
What is the usual to give them in food? ie a handful of corn/pellets per bird or what? once they have free reign of the garden they will find lots of grubs etc for themselves, but what would be the right amount for this weekend?
cheers trappa
ps pics WILL follow ;)

I'd try 2 to 4 ounces of food per bird in a proper feeding dish or hopper. If they eat the lot add some more tomorrow ,if they leave too much clear it up try a bit less .When they get the feel of scratching for worms and stuff things might change but then they will be using up energy foraging so their intake of shop-bought food might not actually drop. Good luck with em anyway , :thumbs:

Ps Marans and LS .Good choice !

This post has been edited by comanche: 11 April 2009 - 12:01 PM

[trappa]

Just thought id finish this thread with news that i got my first full house this morning! 6 hens=6 eggs.

[iamduvern]

trappa, on May 6 2009, 07:28 PM, said:

Just thought id finish this thread with news that i got my first full house this morning! 6 hens=6 eggs.

Result!!
We got 4 six weeks ago and one turned out to be a cock so hes for the oven this weekend but the other three are laying nicely
They get the cheapest mix, kitchen scraps and a mate of mine does house clearance so I get any cereals and veg left in peoples houses and the birds thrive on it

Do the eggs taste better than shop brought ones????

[trappa]

Mate, they are so much nicer than shop bought, seriously. The yolks are orange and a real nice tasting egg.
Ive been waiting to get a full house since i got them. I got a 5 last week but its been 3 or 4 usually.
Real happy, though one has an eye problem, but she seems real happy.

[traceyg]

Dont do my mistake and give them bread :whistling: I aslo feed bit crushed maize makes the yolk yellow :victory:
http://www.thehuntin...x...c=96828&hl=