chickens

[Wxm 1,638]

hi i've had 2 chickens for a few months now and i picked up 5 more on the weekend.

the first 2 hav'nt started laying yet as they're only just coming up 2 20wks (or so)

the 5 i picked up weekend are laying .. well unsure if all are but theres a few that are as i have had 7 eggs in 2 days with them.

im just wondering what i can give them food wise .. that will help them with producing .. i have been using layer pallets

but is there any house hold scarps that they'll like and is there any that are a no no and may harm them?

 

oh if it helps 1 have 2 silkies (1 brown & 1 blue n white) hen 1 speckled hen (unsure thou) 3 white sussex hens and 1 ginger hen (looks a little small for a warren)

[gaffa 0]

would just keep them on layers pellets in my opinion mate, best things for the job

[bert the fert 28]

Ours love variety ! They get fed a layers pellet with whatever waste veg there is, plus occasional treats like corn on the cob..... they go bonkers over that. I also like them to forage for their scraps. They spend less time squabbling if they're kept busy looking for grub.

[Ideation 8,217]

If you want nice yellow yolks greens help a lot.

[Tiff 36]

Layers pellets is like you only eating processed food ... the more natural, organic items they can eat, the happier and healthier they'll be. If they are allowed to freerange too far, they won't produce as many eggs as they are buring off a lot foraging, but I like seeing them scratting around so I'll sacrafice a few eggs. I like to put bales of hay and wooden boards down flat on the ground and move them every week, bugs and worms and mice will be found underneath and gives the chickens a new place to scratch in. In the winter they are cooped up and are only able to eat pellets and table scraps when the weather is bad and the greens and bugs are dormant, so I like to help them make the most of the good months.

[clint 45]

plenty fruit veg, get all apple plum from frend tree,grass cutt, all food waste from table, restrant, meat everythin for good many eggs.

[iamduvern 62]

plenty fruit veg, get all apple plum from frend tree,grass cutt, all food waste from table, restrant, meat everythin for good many eggs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[watchman 256]

boiled up potato peelings,better than throwing it away and they love it

[bert the fert 28]

boiled up potato peelings,better than throwing it away and they love it

 

Never heard of that before ! Will give it a go.

 

 

P.S. Our chooks keep hiding their eggs. How do i encourage them to lay in the nest box again ?

[watchman 256]

boiled up potato peelings,better than throwing it away and they love it

 

Never heard of that before ! Will give it a go.

 

 

P.S. Our chooks keep hiding their eggs. How do i encourage them to lay in the nest box again ?

 

The domestic chicken originated from wild jungle fowl in Southeast Asia. There they were subjected to predators. Their nesting behavior is related to these wild roots and hens will frequently hide their eggs to keep their nests safe.

 

 

 

Confining Hens

A hen that hides her eggs may need to be confined to a nest box during the day when she lays her eggs. This can train the hen to use the box instead of finding other places to lay eggs

 

 

How To Train

Hens that are allowed outdoors will frequently choose to nest in shrubbery or brush. These hens should be confined to an indoor pen during the time that she will most likely lay an egg, usually morning or very early afternoon.

 

Eliminate Hiding Spots

Inside the pen, all buckets, storage containers or feed bags should be removed. Hens that hide eggs will often try to lay an egg behind such items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

any use

[bert the fert 28]

boiled up potato peelings,better than throwing it away and they love it

 

Never heard of that before ! Will give it a go.

 

 

P.S. Our chooks keep hiding their eggs. How do i encourage them to lay in the nest box again ?

 

The domestic chicken originated from wild jungle fowl in Southeast Asia. There they were subjected to predators. Their nesting behavior is related to these wild roots and hens will frequently hide their eggs to keep their nests safe.

 

 

 

Confining Hens

A hen that hides her eggs may need to be confined to a nest box during the day when she lays her eggs. This can train the hen to use the box instead of finding other places to lay eggs

 

 

How To Train

Hens that are allowed outdoors will frequently choose to nest in shrubbery or brush. These hens should be confined to an indoor pen during the time that she will most likely lay an egg, usually morning or very early afternoon.

 

Eliminate Hiding Spots

Inside the pen, all buckets, storage containers or feed bags should be removed. Hens that hide eggs will often try to lay an egg behind such items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

any use

 

 

 

Cheers for that I've eliminated the compost bin already. Found 8 eggs in there last week. The sneaky buggers have found somewhere else though. So it looks like they'll have to be confined to barracks till they get the message again.