Hen help!!

[Donnie Darco]

Kind of adopted some little bantams whilst owner sorts out some life issues.

They get fed layers pellets daily.

Do I need to supply grit or anything else? Or do layers pellets contain all?

And they get either slice of bread or meal worms as a treat (although I microwaved a swede tonight - could they have what's left?)

What other things can they have/not have?

Also in the nest box/roost - what sort of bedding is safe and comfortable?

Want them to be happy and healthy 😊

Thank you!

 

[Honey08]

Yes they'd love your cooked suede. Ours also love soft fruits, melon, grapes and berries are their faves. Mealworms are like heroin for hens, if you ever want them to follow you just hold a bucket/scoop of them!

You need to make sure they have grit or oyster shell out for them all the time, it helps them form egg shells. We also give corn to ours, it warms them up in winter a bit. We use straw in our coop, both in nesting boxes and on the floor. Good luck and enjoy them, hope you get lots of eggs.

 

[JillA]

Layers pellets include calcium for shells, but mine much prefer mixed corn so they do have shells. Grit is for them to grind the food up. I was told potatoes are bad for them but mine love all sorts of food, sunflower seeds, mealworms (their version of chocolate!) and soaked cat kibble is another fave.
I line my hen house with sheets of newspaper rather than bedding, less risk of mites gaining hold, and easy to remove and replace daily - as they roost most of the time they don't really need soft bedding. Get some powder to sprinkle in their dust bath area to keep parasites at bay

 

[jrp204]

Layers pellets will give them everything they need, with any hens, if you want eggs cut out the scraps as there will not be enough protein in them. Straw or shavings in the nest box will be fine. Make sure they have a constant supply of layers pellets/mash. If you put the feeder up on some bricks so they have to reach into it you will find they don't waste so much.

 

[Clodagh]

Pick the feed up at night this time of year, rats are a scourge. Have fun with them - they are highly addictive! Agreed no to straw in coop, just paper or I used split open feed bags and roll up and dispose once a week. Red mite powder in nest boxes then shavings or somethnig fluffy and comfy on top. Preferably not hay.

 

[Nudibranch]

I feed layers pellets and a few scraps, they lay well. Best bedding I have found is Easybed, as in the equine version. Never ever had red mite despite a garden full of birds and a very tame pheasant who socialises with the hens when they go out free ranging. I do wonder if its my strict policy of rearing everything from the egg and never introducing adult birds...or maybe just good luck!