Few questions from a Newbie!

bn77 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:58 pm **Posts:** 3

Hi everyone, i apologise if these questions have been asked before but i am unable to search the forums as yet. We finished our chook pen on Saturday and moved our 6 lovely Isa Browns in that afternoon. They are approx. 16 weeks old and are slowly learning the ropes (as are we). We unfortunately have been given some very conflicting advice on feeding them and would be very grateful if you could enlighten us on what is the right thing to do, as Mr Google is no longer my friend in relation to all things Chicken..hehe.

1. We were told by the produce store not to give them any scraps until they have started laying for a few weeks, which is a little while off yet. The reason for this is they need to get all the protein from the mash and by giving the scraps they will eat this instead which won't be good for egg production and growth right now. ?? However another person has told us that we should just ignore this and give them the scraps??? help please!!!

2. We have also been told by the produce to ensure they have food and water at all times (night and day??) but once again we've been told the opposite that if they don't eat what you put down in a certain amount of time take it away. Much like a dog.

3. So basically what is the best feeding practice for my babies, mash? pellets? scraps? when and where should i feed this, and also should i have shell grit available too.

Once again i do apologise for so many questions. But thank you in advance for your replies.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hi b

bn77 wrote:

1. We were told by the produce store not to give them any scraps until they have started laying for a few weeks, which is a little while off yet. The reason for this is they need to get all the protein from the mash and by giving the scraps they will eat this instead which won't be good for egg production and growth right now. ?? However another person has told us that we should just ignore this and give them the scraps??? help please!!!

Piffle! That's my take on not giving your girls scraps. I have always given my girls scraps. They love them and it hasn't affected their egg laying or growth. If anything I think my girls filled out really quickly because I gave them scraps as well as their grower pellets, before they started laying.

Once they started laying I gave/give them Barastock Top Layer mash & all the veggie scraps I can find & get from my neighbors because they love love love a variety of foods. Here is a list that you may want to refer to for some foods they like:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chick ... d-chickens

bn77 wrote:

2. We have also been told by the produce to ensure they have food and water at all times (night and day??) but once again we've been told the opposite.

This part is true. Although they don't eat or drink at night they do get up early & you want to make sure they have food and water available to them when they get up, otherwise you will run yourself ragged running down to the pen to give them food & water every morning when you don't need to.

bn77 wrote:

3. So basically what is the best feeding practice for my babies, mash? pellets? scraps? when and where should i feed this, and also should i have shell grit available too.

Yes to all these. I feed my girls mash (dry & wet), pellets (but they're not a huge fan of these), scraps (refer to the list. I do alot) & grit(very important to have access to this all the time). When & where is more up to you and your schedule. If they always have food, water & grit available it's just up to you when they get veggie treats.

Hope I have helped.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

bn77 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:58 pm **Posts:** 3

Thankyou for taking the time to answer my questions Chicka-Dee, you've been extremely helpful. Very excited i can go give them some scraps now. It will give my 3yr old something to do with them other than trying to read them books...hehe.

Cindys334 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:15 pm **Posts:** 39

just make sure that you keep the balance, i found with my girls that they ate the scraps instead of the pellets and we had problems, moderation is the key.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Cindys wrote:

just make sure that you keep the balance, i found with my girls that they ate the scraps instead of the pellets and we had problems, moderation is the key.

Maybe your girls are like mine Cindys, in that, they don't like pellets either. I give my girls the Barastock top layer mash as well as scraps. I have a bag of pellets left over from when I first got them which I soak in warm water & add molasses to (they love that - go nuts for it) just to use up the bag of pellets, but once I have finished that I am staying with the Mash & scraps and no pellets.

I agree balance is key but if they prefer the scraps over the pellets then that says it all. The Mash is higher in protein & for Isa Browns a higher protein level is better for them because they are bred for high egg production (apprx 320-350 eggs per year). My girls don't like the pellets because they are big and hard. So when they accidentally pick one up they spit it out.

Fussy little buggers these ones.

Cindys334 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:15 pm **Posts:** 39

we also had mite problems that i wasn't aware of until it had run them down and started to get sick as well.

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