How to Feed Chickens pt 2 by Virginia Shirt

Nearly above all, the health of your hens and the number of eggs they give you depends on what and how you feed them.

Virginia Shirt is the author of The Right Way to Keep Chickens available from Amazon and all good bookstores. She has lived with chickens for over 15 years so her knowledge is based on practical experience.

This is part 2 of the article, part one can be found at How to Feed Chickens pt 1

Feeding Grit & Oyster Shell to Laying Hens

Quality Chicken Feed

Although layers pellets or mash should have adequate grit within I like to keep a bowl of grit separate to ensure they have plenty. Chickens require plenty of grit to help maximise digestion. Oyster shell and grit are ideal for digestion and supply added calcium to the diet.

Recycling Egg Shells to Feed Back to the Hens

Another good source of calcium for the chicken involves the recycling of their own egg shells. Save the shells from all the eggs you use and bake them in the oven (my egg shells just sit in the Aga baking slowly till required), you then crush them up and feed them back to the chickens.

Crush them well so that the chicken does not realise she is eating egg shells. You don’t want her getting any ideas about eating eggs in the coop. I crush my shells in the Kenwood chef it does a great job. If I have plenty of time I will then crush them further with a pestle and mortar.

The pestle and mortar really powders down the shell. I then simply place it in the top of the food hopper and it gradually sifts through. I always notice a vast difference in the quality of the egg shell when they have had a dose!

Best Practice for Feeding at Home

Chickens seem to lay better when fed adlib. This means that food is available all day and night. However if you do decide to feed in ration 3-6 oz of layers pellets per chicken should be sufficient. I have certainly noticed over the years that should my chickens run out of food the egg production will drop drastically in a short time.

Feeding Kitchen Waste

Since the catastrophic foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 Feeding kitchen waste is now illegal. However you may purchase vegetables from the local markets etc. After all layers pellets or mash results in a pretty boring diet for a chicken. Cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots and turnips tied up around the coop will add variety and stimulate the chickens. Hang such treats just high enough for the chickens to nibble at with just a little effort.

If you visit your local market the vegetable stalls often leave many out of date vegetables and fruit in boxes behind the stalls at closing. If you time it well you can pick up a lot of treats for your chickens. Always make sure that whatever extras you feed your chickens, it has not been anywhere near meat products. This will minimise the chances of any salmonella outbreaks.

Give Your Hens a Treat!

Mixed corn can also be used to stimulate the chickens mentally. Keep a bag in to use as a treat. Just scatter a couple of handfuls around (depending on how many chickens you have) and watch the chickens enjoy scratching around for it. Corn is also helpful if you are trying to get your chickens into bed early!

Conclusion

Remember that the diet of your chicken will dictate not only the health of your chicken but also the amount of eggs you get from them. Don’t be tempted to skimp on their diet as you will lose out. Always store the food in a clean, dry environment free from vermin. Fresh water must always be available to complement your chicken’s diet.

This Article Continues from Feeding Chickens Part 1 by Virginia Shirt

Articles by Virginia Shirt on Keeping Chickens at Home