What is the best thing to feed chickens during winter?

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Question by …..: What is the best thing to feed chickens during winter?
Is there such a thing as hot mash for chickens during winter.

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5 Responses to What is the best thing to feed chickens during winter?

  1. My dad has chickens and we just give them corn and ANY leftovers from our food (but not meat). Things like bread, potato, any veg 😉
    Hope this helps

    Zoe C
    January 7, 2012 at 1:13 pm
    Reply

  2. We feed them Laying Pellets all the year round. ‘Treats’ come in the shape of corn, chopped up cabbage stalks (they LOVE THESE !). Save the egg shells – put them on a plate in the bottom of your oven – you’re simply putting back the calcium that is used when the egg is laid.Best to avoid ‘left overs’ – not everything in them is best for the birds. Good luck !

    El Cestriano
    January 7, 2012 at 1:36 pm
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  3. The best food for poultry during the winter months is cracked Maize(corn) or Wheat, the corn is a high energy food.

    When I was young we used to feed out poultry on a mix of vegetables (table left overs etc) heated and a spice sprinkled and mixed in with this.

    I believe that the spice was called “Karswoods poultry Spice” but now in my 76th year I could not say whether, this is still produced and sold.

    wacky
    January 7, 2012 at 1:51 pm
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  4. You can buy layers mash instead of layers pellets. You mix it with hot water, let it cool slightly and feed this “mash” to the chickens.

    Its a bit more hassle than pellets to be honest and I don’t think the chickens need warm food realistically. Wild birds don’t eat warm food. There is no nutritional difference between layers mash and pellets, mine get pellets all year round unless the feed store runs out and then they get the mash.

    If you want to give them something warm you can feed boiled (cooled slightly) potato/swede/carrot/parsnip peelings and boiled (again cooled) chopped cabbage or kale. Pretty much any veg really.

    If you have surplus of eggs at all (unlikely at this time of year) you can boil a few eggs up, let them cool, flatten the eggs shells and all and mix it all together with a few oats or barley and feed them this.

    Kisses it better ♥
    January 7, 2012 at 2:37 pm
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  5. Corn. Cracked Corn.

    Chocoholic
    January 7, 2012 at 3:26 pm
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