[marigold]

My ex bats arrived 6 weeks ago and have nearly eaten their way through a sack of ex batt crumbs. They're not looking beautiful yet but they are laying occasional eggs. The eggs are pale yellow as opposed to my hens who are eating layers pellets, which have dark yellow yolks. I am giving them some vitamin supplements in their water and porridge and corn in the afternoons. One of them was sick (she actually managed to wedge herself under a wardrobe in the polytunnel. We didn't find her for a few hours and when we put her back into the pen with the others they denuded her over night) The sick hen has been separated and in a hospital pen for 3 weeks, she has also had cod liver oil and has a new set of lovely feathers now. I am wondering whether to buy another sack of Ex batt pellets or whether to move onto layers - what does anyone else think?

[doganjo]

I've never used ex batts crumbs except for a couple of days after I get them.  They go straight onto layers pellets but I do supplement with porridge with milk and honey and a few drops of citricidal for a couple of weeks and if it's cold like now.

[shetlandpaul]

get them the normal layers and something else maise or mixed corn. they would benifit from some vit sup as well. the poor girls coming from warmth into the freedom of a cold chuck house. the colour of the eggs will improve in the spring.

[marigold]

Thats great thanks

[Lavinia]

This site is great just been out and gave the 2 ex bats wheatabix, honey with cod liver oil. We lost one this week and another two seem to dislike the cold. We rescued 6 earlier in the year and they had extra vits and i mixed ex bat crumbs with a bag of layers pellets and they came on great. But this lot which i also got about 6 weeks ago have not been as lucky with the weather. hopfully this will help them adjust to the harse conditions. Can anyone advise me where to get Citricidal???

Ta

[doganjo]

I googled it and bought off the net - about £6 I think.  My chooks love porridge oats with boiling water poured over, honey mixed in and cooled with milk.

[Lavinia]

Need to get porridge oats, will do when I;m out at the shops tomorrow will try on line for the citricidal. They have eaten the wheatabix so at least that is a start, have given them it before but not with honey and cod liver oil....

[Rosemary]

Sunflower seed and sardines - not together.

[Hardfeather]

If I have layers, they get layers pellets when they are laying, and wheat during the moult. In cold weather, they get a handful of good wheat each in the afternoon before they go up to roost. Wheat is a good source of heat.

My gamefowl just get wheat and grass all year round, and they lay well and hatch plenty of chicks in the summer.