What To Feed Male Chickens?

[Coinkdink]

Hi

I've been feeding my Chickens (1 Hen + 1 Rooster/Cockerel) Mixed Corn Feed for the past year that I've had them.. Well actually I had them on Layers Mash in the very beginning which finished and then I got the Corn Feed. Now I read you're NOT supposed to feed them Mixed Corn as it should be given as a treat or in small amounts.

So I decided to buy Layer Pellets and give them to the Chickens, now the Hen will eat Layer Feed but the Male isn't too keen and only really eats the Mixed Corn. What kind of feed can I give to the Male that is good for him and he will actually eat? If possible some links to some products in the UK would he very highly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[FortCluck]

Look for all flock feed or flock raiser feed and supplement eggshells or oyster shells on the side for the layers.

 

[chickens really]

Grower finisher feed..That's all I feed all my birds and for laying hens I supply Oyster shell in a separate dish once a week.

 

[Folly's place]

x3. An all flock or grower feed, with oyster shell on the side. By 'mixed corn' we are thinking that you mean a scratch mix, meant as a treat in small quantities only. Stop feeding it until everyone is eating a balanced diet!
Chickens just love corn, and will eat it like I want chocolate.
Mary

 

[Coinkdink]

x3. An all flock or grower feed, with oyster shell on the side. By 'mixed corn' we are thinking that you mean a scratch mix, meant as a treat in small quantities only. Stop feeding it until everyone is eating a balanced diet!
Chickens just love corn, and will eat it like I want chocolate.
Mary

Yeah I think it's called a "Scratch Mix". I've taken a picture to show you.
I also have just grains without the Corn which I can feed him but I don't know if he'll eat them.. At the moment I can give him 1 of 3 things, The Layer Pellets, Scratch Mix or the Brown Grains. I don't know if the Pet Shop in my town sells "Flock Feed" so I'll probably need to order it and wait for it sometime next week now unfortunately.

Thank you for your help though, much appreciated.

 

[Folly's place]

Here pet stores are the wrong place to find chicken food, it's the farm feed stores instead.
Mary

 

[FlyWheel]

Look for all flock feed or flock raiser feed and supplement eggshells or oyster shells on the side for the layers.

+1. That's what I did. I used flock raiser, left oyster shell on the side and let the hens pick at it free choice. Not only will the rooster ignore it but non laying hens, chicks and pullets as well. I also ground their egg shells to sand like consistency and mixed it in. Recycling at it's best.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yeah I think it's called a "Scratch Mix". I've taken a picture to show you.
I also have just grains without the Corn which I can feed him but I don't know if he'll eat them.. At the moment I can give him 1 of 3 things, The Layer Pellets, Scratch Mix or the Brown Grains. I don't know if the Pet Shop in my town sells "Flock Feed" so I'll probably need to order it and wait for it sometime next week now unfortunately.

Thank you for your help though, much appreciated.

Since he's wants the scratch and brown grains, start gradually adding pellets to what you give him daily, over time increase the amount of pellets and reduce the scratch and grains.

Do check with your pet shop to see what they have available. Since you are in the UK a lot of times, you have a more limited choice then what most of us are used to in the US. Yes...I see a LOT of posters from the UK that use Pet Shops, "farm stores" seem to be more of a US "thing"

 

[Coinkdink]

Since he's wants the scratch and brown grains, start gradually adding pellets to what you give him daily, over time increase the amount of pellets and reduce the scratch and grains.

Do check with your pet shop to see what they have available. Since you are in the UK a lot of times, you have a more limited choice then what most of us are used to in the US. Yes...I see a LOT of posters from the UK that use Pet Shops, "farm stores" seem to be more of a US "thing"

Thank you for you're reply!

I think i'll try this out. Unfortunately I can't seem to find ''All Flock Feed'' or ''Raiser Feed'' online anywhere in the UK. I'm going to go to the local Animal Feed shop and find out if they do anything like that. Otherwise I'll try and get these guy's off the Scratch nice and slowly.

 

[Folly's place]

Maybe a chick feed? See what's available, and fresh by mill date (I hope the bags are marked as they are here).
It may not be possible to wean him gently into a good feed, if he continues to insist on eating only his favorite seeds in your seed mix. 'Cold turkey' might be your best plan here, if he's not accepting any thing else.
Mary