[NormandyMary]

I'd be interested to hear what you feed your birds. I give mine a mixture in equal parts of layers pellets, corn and crushed maize. I only ask, 'cos I was talking to a friend this morning and she said that she only gives her birds corn. So I'd be interested to hear what you all give your girls and boys (if they are laying birds).
 
Thanks.

[FiB]

I have recently switched over to a grain mix as on Castlefarm eggs website (MANY THANKS)  -  "2 parts wheat, 1 part cut maize and 1 part rolled barley. The cod-liver oil is added to the wheat and mixed in by hand, just enough to coat the grains. I then add the cut maize and mix again and then the rolled barley." ( http://castlefarmeggs.co.uk/?page_id=108 ). I have started providing access to grit, though I dont know if mine need it as they free range.  I feel much happier now I know exactly what they are eating (especially as I will be eating some of them soon  )  and only other change I have observed is that yolks are yellower.  I give a few handfulls morning and late afternoon between 14 (12 layers, 2 cockrels - soon to be 1).  My 'chicks' are still on growers, but I'll be changing them over after Ive finished this sack.  They never seemed that bothered by layers pellets and I always had the feeling the pheasents and squirels were enjoying more of  it than they were!!!  Good luck,

[Bionic]

I was feeding mine layers pellets, with a bit of mixed corn until there was a previous discussion on here. For the last 2 or 3 months they are now on just mixed corn.
They also have the odd bit of bread and some pasta or rice if I am cooking some but that isn't much. They free range all day and seem to be doing well.
Egg yolks are a lovely colour
Sally

[Bert]

My girls get mixed corn available to them all day. They get a handful of dried meal worms in the morning. As they free range on the beach every day, they find them selves lots of other goodies in the seaweed to eat. they also find them selves lots of oyster shell and grit as well.

[jaykay]

Mainly layers pellets, a scoop of mixed corn as a treat when I come in from work (while it's still light, only at the weekends soon  )

[NormandyMary]

My girls get mixed corn available to them all day. They get a handful of dried meal worms in the morning. As they free range on the beach every day, they find them selves lots of other goodies in the seaweed to eat. they also find them selves lots of oyster shell and grit as well.

Im going to sound really thick here, but what is mixed corn? I know that in the feed shops they sell a chicken mix which I assume doesnt have the layers pellets in as they say its for all types of farm poultry. Whether that is mixed corn, I dont know. Ill have to have a look the next time I go to the  shop.

[Mel]

Mixed corn is a mix of wheat and corn,you can also get added sunflower and so forth,I tend to buy it in bulk to save some money,10kg of black sunflower seed cost's me £11.00 which I believe is cheap,I would usually give them my own,but none of my sunflowers went anywhere this year,I then hand mix it with wheat and split corn(maize),all purchased separately,it is hard work trying to mix it all up,usually in smaller quantities in a wheelbarrow.

I used to give mine layers mash,and they promote that it is GM free,but supposedly,there are still chemicals in there?! I think the girls seem happier

[Carl f k]

I give a mix of layers pellets and mixed corn they have access to it all day but Freerange also live mealworms as they are supposed to be a good wormer

[PetiteGalette]

We buy our mix from a local farmer who crushes it for us, if wanted - 3 parts wheat to 1 part maize/peas or field beans. It is quite 'floury' as it is crushed but I sieve it and use the flour in a 'wet' mash for the chooks (at lunch time) who love it. I also buy whole wheat/peas/maize and mill it myself as we have have a mill that kibbles' the grain and makes a harder mix than the crushed melange. I  make up the same proportion mix.........
I only feed layers pellets in season but my chucks eat everything else first, so won't bother next year.............
I used to feed my turkeys on the proprietary turkey feed - starter crumbs/growers/ finishers but have not done so this year as they put on too much fat......... We'll see how they did at Christmas......

[Victorian Farmer]

I make my own bruised barley maze corn chick crumbs all mixt .If you have late hatches iv got  4 hens and 1   cock bird that were hatched late i feed them a tin of dog food every 2 days as well as potatoes with boiled eggs in need to get them through the winter they are am rocks very rare and my new birds 2013 they have the utility and the size to make my bared rocks supper .

[hughesy]

A friend of mine doesn't feed her chickens or ducks at all, just lets them fend for themselves. They haven't died and they still lay some eggs for her.

[NormandyMary]

Thanks so much for all your info. I was wondering about stopping the layers during the winter as its the most expensive of all their foods and probably not necessary if Im not going to get any eggs. Im not so worried now that they are free ranging, but Im always frightened of not doing all I should for my animals, although they are all fit, well and healthy.

[ballingall]

Our chooks have layers pellets available in hoppers, but my mother feeds them layers mash (with hot water and milk) in the morning. At the moment she does that 3 times a week, but once the weather is colder, that will be everyday. They also get thrown mixed corn in the afternoon- not a lot, just a handful each. My bantams have a hopper with mixed corn and layers pellets mixed.




Beth

[gillsta]

My babys get medicated chick crumb then onto medicated growers with mixed grain. Then big birds have layers with mixed grain. I get wheat from my friendly farmer which is very reasonable. They love a scattering in the morning. I use ACS. Garlic powder. Pumkins are 2 for £3 at the moment so they go mad for them.