|
Post by colemangirly on Aug 29, 2013 10:04:43 GMT -5
For you that feed fodder as the only food source for your chickens, do you use a mix or just one seed? I would like to cut out layer pellets and scratch, but worry about the fodder being complete enough for them. They also don't seem as keen on the fodder like my goats do, lol.
|
|
|
Post by Sprouts on Aug 29, 2013 12:58:15 GMT -5
The only thing I add to my wheat fodder is salt and grit and thats only once a week. Sometimes black sunflower seeds as well they love eat had to cut back on their portions they were getting to fat.
|
|
|
Post by coloradogal on Aug 7, 2014 21:27:46 GMT -5
I am new to feeding fodder but my goal is to feed fodder only with non GMO scratch for supplement. I am using:
2-3 part Wheat 1 part Barley 1 part Oats 1/3 part black sunflower seeds 1 part millet
All seeds mixed together..Soaked in 1% bleach mixture overnight. I Am on day three and they are sprouting as expected. Calcium and scratch will be available all time of course.
|
|
|
Post by Sprouts on Aug 8, 2014 12:31:19 GMT -5
Coloradogal, do the animals free range as well? Sounds like a good mix. We give our chickens(the ones that dint get to free range for bugs;extra protein) the same except we add fish meal, and kelp, in small amounts to the cut up sprouts then mix all and together so as to kinda cat the sprouts with fish meal and kelp. We find they eat it easier and more if we break it up and cut it into one inch pieces.
The free rangers get no fish meal or kelp as they can free range for bugs and such......they both make great deep orange colored yolks! The taste of a Cornish Rock feed this diet is amazing!
I always give day old chicks starter grain until they are old enough by about 4 weeks as not all the grain sprout 100% and they cant peck it open. Instead they swallow it whole which isn't good, alas grain until 4 weeks old. This method has work great over the years.
|
|
|
Post by creekside on Apr 10, 2015 18:51:19 GMT -5
I started feeding my chickens barley fodder about a week ago and they love it! I was giving both the fodder and layer crumble. I figured once the crumble ran out i would just continue feeding just fodder. I give my 21 laying hens 5 pounds of fodder (started as 1 pound of seed) in the morning and the crumble ran out today. When i got home from work they rushed to me when i entered the coop and started making their "FEED ME" sounds. How much fodder should I feed if i just feed fodder? Should i do it once a day or twice a day?
|
|
|
Post by Sprouts on Apr 13, 2015 6:41:12 GMT -5
Creekside I feed mine twice a day but they also get to free range for bugs. I also add different grains to the mix like black oil sunflower seeds, wheat, grit on occasion etc so they get a variety. When I feed out fatties I also supplement them with a little kelp and fish feed sprinkled over the top. I have found that baby chicks dont do good on fodder until after they start feathering as some grains dont sprout 100% and their tummies dont do as well as an adult bird that cab break the grain up before swallowing. I also cut my fodder into pieces they seem to go after it alot better than some who feed it to them by the chunk.For mine layer feed is the once a week treat haha
|
|