2 chickens question

**Bloo** · 06-25-2008, 11:14 PM

hi i am FINALLY getting my 2 chickens this weekend (2 hens)

(who knows maybe later i will flock out and get more lol)

i have a fenced area, a house, and a waterer and feeder for them

but what do i need to buy them for food???

they will free range and get scraps but i am sure they need some cracked corn or something as well right?

appreciate any help here

thanks!

**sdrjeolsen** · 06-26-2008, 12:20 AM

Congrats on your new birds, you'll love them, they are so much fun. If you want them to lay eggs consistantly, they need lots of protein. They wont get enough from grasses and kitchen scraps, but if they have access to lots of bugs they should do okay. If not, buy a bag of layer crumbles from the feed store. Mine runs about $14 for a 50 lb bag. I believe the recommendation is about 120 grams/bird/day. I'd keep a laying record, see how they do just free ranging. If they are not laying well, start them on the crumbles. By the way, there is a lag time of about 5 days to a week from when you change the diet to when you see the results. In the winter they will need crumbles. Also I give mine some scratch grains, which is a mix of cracked corn, millet, oats, etc. 50 lbs runs about $15. Toss dried grass or leaves in the pen to give them something to scratch around in. Also that keeps them occupied and happy.

I'd occasionally give them some vitamins in their water. A feed store carries that as well (usually a foil packet with powder). Its not completely necessary, but if they start to look ragged or you have them in a small area, I recommend it.

Good luck, feel free to PM me if you have more questions. I've got about 100 chickens right now, so I'm fairly up to date on information.

**cmdarlin** · 06-26-2008, 07:38 AM

Your going to have so much fun watching your girls! We have 30+ chickens right now and their so entertaining. We let ours free range most of the time. Depending on how young they are, 1 day to 8 weeks, we have the chicks on 'chick starter'. (Has medication in it for young birds. After that, we use egg crumbles even though they are free range. We are getting anywhere from 16 - 24 eggs a day right now. There is nothing like a fresh farm egg!

Things I have learned about having many free ranging chickens..... you can't have a flower bed! Mine are all empty and basically just 'dusting' areas for the girls! *laughing*

Debbie in Missouri

**cmdarlin** · 06-26-2008, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by sdrjeolsen

They wont get enough from grasses and kitchen scraps, but if they have access to lots of bugs they should do okay. If not, buy a bag of layer crumbles from the feed store. Mine runs about $14 for a 50 lb bag.

Forgot to add.... we pay on the average $9 for crumbles and scratch. Then around $7 for cracked corn. I won't complain about our feed costs.

Debbie in Missouri

**freebs** · 06-26-2008, 07:48 AM

getcha some scratch!

**freyadog** · 06-26-2008, 11:16 AM

I use the pellets instead of crumbles. I find with my brood that it is less wasteful. Also for the grit I use coffee cans that are nailed to the sides of the walls and that is one less ingredient I have to mix for their feed. They can get what they need.

I throw scratch out in the yard for my flock for their fun and also dash a little in their feeder which is a long slim aluminum tray that sits inside the hen house on the floor.(dh made)

My hen house has a concrete floor so it is very easy to clean and bleach about 2x a week. sometimes if I remember I will throw straw under the roost to help catch the poo and then I just sweep it out the door and then bleach the floor down.

When ever I get new chickens I leave them in the hen house a couple of days so they know where home is.

**NCchick** · 06-26-2008, 07:15 PM

I have 400 laying hens on the farm. We buy feed by the ton of course...LOL

Any local feed store can set you up with feed. Your 2 hens will require very little feed actually and a bag will go a very long way for you.

Chickens require very little intervention....just be sure to have 2 nesting boxes. Take an old plastic bucket and lay on the ground secure and put in a little hay. they will lay their eggs in there. easy access, easy cleaning.

we have metal 12 tier nesting boxes, but have some hens in separate cages for rearing chicks and we use these buckets and it works wonderful.

best of luck...nothing better than fresh eggs!!!! the taste is incredible

Karen

**Bloo** · 06-26-2008, 09:03 PM

wow thanks all-that is also one thing i forgot-nest boxes! will they need 1 each or can they share

i bet a 50lb bag will go a long way-they sell small bags of cracked corn (10lbs or so) at the grocery store would that do or do they need the chicken feed?

thanks all! i cant wait

will post pics