I'm new to chicken keeping so please bear with me, I'm probably worrying about nothing.
Since I've let my 2 hens out of the run during the day and into the whole garden they seem to eat hardly any of the pellets from the feeder. Is this because they are munching from the garden ect or should I be worried?
MTIA.
Hi!
Over the past few months mine have been let out further a field (out of the run to venture into the garden)
They only venture out when i am around ie after work and at weekends- but i notice a significant difference at weekends and how much corn/pellets they have leftover - they enjoy the garden muching too much!
So i wouldnt overly worry......i hope that helps
Beanie x
Quote from: gt568 on April 10, 2008, 16:50:00
Since I've let my 2 hens out of the run during the day and into the whole garden they seem to eat hardly any of the pellets from the feeder. Is this because they are munching from the garden ect or should I be worried?
They will be scratching up beasties to eat all day long. Not including eating any berries and other foilage they can get into. Including your veg & flower patch ;D
Hiya,
If they've got access to grass they're probably munching on that rather than boring old pellets, I know mine would choose grass any day.
Jon
Quote from: jonny211 on April 10, 2008, 23:40:55
Hiya,
If they've got access to grass they're probably munching on that rather than boring old pellets, I know mine would choose grass any day.
Jon
Should I keep them in the run longer to make them eat pellets rather than the grass?
Eventually they can cause considerable mess and damage in the garden. I used to let mine out for an hour or so before dusk so that they would go back on there own.
Until Mr Fox discovered them, killing 12 in one session.
After that, the new birds were only let out in my presence, and only when there were no tasty vegetable to eat!
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html
I let mine out for a wander today and all hell let loose!!!
One was chasing the other and then I saw that she had a worm and the other one wanted it.........they each had an end and then it broke in the middle and then they were happy because they both had a bit!!!!
Priceless - it was like a cartoon!
Louise
XX
Quote from: gt568 on April 11, 2008, 07:45:54
Quote from: jonny211 on April 10, 2008, 23:40:55
Hiya,
If they've got access to grass they're probably munching on that rather than boring old pellets, I know mine would choose grass any day.
Jon
Should I keep them in the run longer to make them eat pellets rather than the grass?
Quote from: gt568 on April 11, 2008, 07:45:54
Quote from: jonny211 on April 10, 2008, 23:40:55
Hiya,
If they've got access to grass they're probably munching on that rather than boring old pellets, I know mine would choose grass any day.
Jon
Should I keep them in the run longer to make them eat pellets rather than
the grass?
would you rather eat stale dried food instead of a fresh buffet?