A Broody Hen Season: Part 7 Feeding Chicks & Laying Hens

[@vickibillimack3256]

Thank you so much for all your helpful information! Your videos are not only chock-full of tips, but also well-organized, easy to understand, and visually entertaining--I love looking at your beautiful set-up and laughing at your chickens and their antics. I also thoroughly enjoy listening you on Coffee with the Chicken Ladies. The comaraderie between you three provides such entertainment and education as I navigate my first year with my flock. You are an inspiration:)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's so lovely of you Vicki, thank you!

[@TheOldSwedesFarm]

We've really enjoyed this series. Thanks for sharing!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad that you could share this journey with us 🙂

[@chickensinmykitchen]

Thank you so much for sharing the wealth of your knowledge. This was exactly what I needed to know.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad that it was useful 🙂

[@akib2542]

Perfect video.. and the information is spot on. My 4 chicks are now 10 days old and coming along nicely thanks to the help from your videos.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad they are doing well!

[@lindapeterson3483]

Fiona, this was perfect and just what I needed because I’m going through that dilemma right now. I have everything from week old chicks to 3 year old adults (layers, cockerel, and ducks.) Since I can’t segregate the feeders very easily, all the birds are eating out of all the feeders. I talked to my feed store about it and they suggested I switch to All Flock Mash, which is made from ground wheat, peas, corn, alfalfa, etc, and is 19% protein. This feed is made by a local feed store and isn’t the commercial forms (think Purina) of feed. You can tell it’s made of whole ingredients and ground up. They also make a chick starter and grower feed that look like it but with differences. I’m supplementing the layers with ground calcium/oyster shell. Also, since there is a lot of gravel, dirt, and sand, around, I don’t supplement with grit. So, for the last week, I’ve had everyone on All Flock. Another thing I do is add Chick Booster (vitamin supplement) and a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar to their water everyday even though I know they’re getting some of those same supplements in their feed. It seems to help a lot. My neighbor who got chicks when I did doesn’t give her chicks the Chick Boost and there’s a HUGE difference in our birds. Mine are much bigger and have feathered out more quickly and my broilers are twice the size of hers. Also, all my feeders are in the coop because we live in the forest and I don’t want to attract rodents. Should I move them outside during the day? What are your thoughts on my feeding strategy? Should I go back to feeding everyone Chick Starter?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It sounds like what you are doing works gor your flock. If the all flock is designed for chicks it should be fine. We prefer the feeders outside once the chicks reach 4 weeks. Once they hit 6 weeks we close the treadle feeders as they are heavy enough to operate the mechanism & that denies food to rodents & wild birds

[@lindapeterson3483]

Thank you so much! I have to say that I’ve learned more from you and your videos than anywhere else I’ve been looking on the web and really appreciate your content. I also appreciate that you take the time to answer questions. Hardly anyone else does. ❤️ 🐣 ❤️

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@lindapeterson3483 Its always a pleasure to chat with a fellow chicken keeper Linda. We are always happy to offer an opinion 🙂

[@snowmiaow]

Love the flower border in the front.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Susanna!

[@rfthegreat2023]

Hi! I've been a viewer and a subscriber for some time now and I wanted to say that I really do enjoy your videos! My mom and I started to take care of chickens around a year ago and it's one of the best decisions I've made. Not only are they sweet and entertaining to watch, their eggs are also delicious! And your videos have helped me understand my chickens a little more 💚

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's lovely of you - thank you!

[@ashm5206]

The little chicks are so adorable! Glad to see you’re back with the next instalment

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Ash! Hope all is okay with you?

[@ashm5206]

@@EnglishCountryLife have my parsnip wine to sip in the now assembled polytunnel (I asked you about it late last year when I was offered a free frame) . Hope you’re enjoying the little chicks and broody season is progressing well even with the loss of Ganet and Halloumi

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ashm5206 Excellent! Free frame is a great thing!

[@orlaithmcg]

We used to get in so much trouble for playing with sticky backs, because they'd stain your clothes if they went through the washing machine. No matter how carefully you checked, at least one would manage to sneak home on you 😂

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How can you not do it though? 😁

[@orlaithmcg]

@@EnglishCountryLife It was so much fun!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@orlaithmcg Totally! We used to have a kind of grass seed that you could throw like darts as well!

[@orlaithmcg]

@@EnglishCountryLife Oh wow, I never saw anything like that. That's so cool!

[@ajaygotru5254]

Exactly what I’m looking for. Thank you so much

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrPaddy924]

Really informative...thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LeoTheYuty]

I love this channel.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you, that's so kind!

[@robincampbell3946]

Thank you so much for this content! I'm a first time chicken mom and your videos are very insightful and informative! My chickens thank you too! ♥️🐔

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are so welcome! What chickens do you have?

[@robincampbell3946]

@@EnglishCountryLife I have a wide variety. We hatched eggs at our preschool and that's where it all started! ♥️ So we have a silkie, a Bielefelder, a sulmtaler (one male, one female), a blue jersey giant, a red laced wyandotte, two speckled Sussex, a brahma, and a black Australorp. We had to find a home for our leghorn cockerel, but will be getting some buff Orpington chicks from them in the fall.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@robincampbell3946 What a fascinating mix!

[@gregoryirvine5693]

Question? I live in the Southern Utah's red rock desert (Think old John Wayne westerns) and farm Alfalfa and raise Scottish Highlander beef. Do you know if the hens and chicks can eat this fresh cut or do I have to dry it as in baleing it? Thank you. A big Fan.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Gregory! It's not a common crop here but we feed our hens numerous green plants straight from the ground from cabbages to wild mustard. They love them all. Reading indicates to me that they are fine on alfalfa fresh or dried thetilth.com/can-chickens-eat-alfalfa/

[@wendyelliott5851]

Thankyou for the very informative video’s. would you know of any grower pellets that are small, I hatch small bantams and the grower pellets I used are to big and I have a hard job grinding it so was wondering if you knew of any smaller type growers, thanks ❤️

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I don't know any specifically but it might be worth checking the formulation of other poultry feed to see if it is suitable. Quail food is often made in small pellets for example.

[@wendyelliott5851]

Thankyou I’ll check that out 👍🏻

[@bgtrev]

Some interesting points raised, have you ever tried fermenting your feed? I know it takes longer and can be messy but where we are it works as a good supplementary food for all our birds. Good, enjoyable series, many thanks.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We never have Trev - how does it help?

[@bgtrev]

@@EnglishCountryLife Creates healthy bacteria in the gut, vitamins and minerals more easily absorbed, less food required (less costs), better quality eggs and shells, increased resistance to infection, decrease in bullying and feather pecking are some of the benefits. There are various reports/research sources along with individuals peoples experiences that back up these claims. I will say it has not turned ours into super birds as some people claim it has theirs but we rarely have any health issues with them.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@bgtrev Very interesting

[@lyndseystansfield5130]

Brilliant video, where do you buy the chick micro pellet from, thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Lyndsey. We buy ours from a local feed mill who are really helpful (they supply things like dried peas, maize & wheat too). If you find yourself in Lincolnshire you want Howsam's! Several manufacturers make micro pellets (Duffields and others) so your local farm feed supplier should have some www.copdockmill.co.uk/now-stocking-chick-starter-micro-pellets/

[@jennytaylor3409]

Thank you!!!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You're welcome!

[@seikokidrick1658]

Thank you for answering one of my questions with this video. When the chicken mom will start laying eggs again?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Generally a few weeks after she leaves her chicks

[@steveridge8168]

Hi Fiona, Just wondering we have 3 hens about 2.5 years old, one recently had a respiratory infection, took to vets had 2 antibiotic injections over the course of a week, followed by Beryls Probiotic mixed in with some grapes, watermelon her favorite, however she is still not eating much, a little watermelon, a grape, a small piece of multi grain crust of bread but not her layers pellets even when mixed as a mash with some water, she did eat some scrambled egg during injections but not now. she sleeps in doors in our kitchen but does go outdoors with the other 2 girls, she does a little hunting with them the seeks shelter to try to cool down, she is not panting, her poo is still a yellowy/mustard color, any ideas or vids on how to force feed chickens? or any ideas on how to get her feeding again. Thank you, keep up the good work.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Steve, I would not advocate any form of force feeding. If she is not eating and losing weight, the prognosis is not good. It would be wise to call your vet and seek their advice.

[@steveridge8168]

@@EnglishCountryLifeThank you for your reply. Jade has now been to the vets 3 times now having an antibiotic jab each time. Due to go back there on Thursday for 4th jab, she does seem to improve after some 20 hours later, this morning she was up 0630 walking around from her isolation in our kitchen. had some layers pellets then when other 2 girls came in had some breakfast they all went out for their morning forage. had to clean jade rear end feathers first as they get mucky during the night, she can still put up a fight if she does not like something, its funny to watch her turn her head away from offered food she does not want compared to when offered a grape/watermelon. We will still keep her isolated bedtime in her own nest box with our web cam on her to monitor eating/drinking activity. Meanwhile she is in garden in her favorite sand box having a dust bath. lets hope the 4th injection on Thursday does the trick. Keep up the good work.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@steveridge8168 Thanks Steve. Hopefully the vet can get to the underlying cause of the infection

[@kellymorgan4783]

Hi! Thanks again for another great, calming, easy to follow video 💕 Locally I can only find starter mash that's medicated. If I feed this to the hens then the advise is to not eat their eggs & dispose of the poop. They're on starter feed for a month (?) So that's 4 weeks of no eggs (not a big deal I guess) and I'll have to clean out the whole run of the compost and leave them all on bare clay until they all move to grower feed. I can find unmedicated starter online but all the locals tell me my chicks will die from coccidiosis without the medicated option. Is this a bit dramatic or should I heed their advise? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi. For a long time we only fed medicated chick feed but now we sometimes feed unmedicated too. We started feeding unmedicated due to lack of supply of the medicated feed. I was quite worried about feeding the unmedicated feed but after researching we found that Amprolium in the medicated feed reduces the risk of coccidiosis, Without it your risk is higher but not a certainty. The risk of coccidiosis will be higher again if your chickens are on bare earth in enclosed spaces too as they have more chance of eating or scratching in soil with faeces. It has to be a personal choice but no, it's not certain your chicks will die from coccidiosis but it is true your risk is higher. In the UK our government department for agriculture classifies Amprolium use as having zero egg withdrawal days for laying hens which means eggs can be used for human consumption. This is the publication from Defra: www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/productinformationdatabase/files/SPC_Documents/SPC_1004528.PDF

[@kellymorgan4783]

@@EnglishCountryLife ooooh thanks for that - great info to mull over. I'll have to look into the soil persistence aspect but if there's no withholding period for eggs perhaps the compost element isn't as much of an issue as I was imagining 😉 THANKS AGAIN - as always, a calming element to my periodic panicky moments 🙈

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@kellymorgan4783 You are very welcome 🙂

[@lindapeterson3483]

In another video you mentioned you only use your breeding rooster one year, then replace it. If you don’t mind my asking, what do you do with your retired cockerel?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Linda, some we pass on to other breeders, but there are always more cockerels than needed. We use the surplus as table birds.

[@ml.5377]

Big question...were we live, we have no access to organic chicken feed. We prepare our own and have had awesome results. What do we do once the chicks arrive? We can get white and red wheat, barley, peas, whole oats, corns of all colors, quinoa, amaranth, kaniwa, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, lentils... those are the basics. They have access to organic greens from the garden. We also have probiotics and vitamins for their water. Thanks from Cusco, Peru.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! So, two questions, 1) Do you have a grain mill (or failing that a blender or coffee grinder) ? 2) Do you have access to high protein beans like soya beans ? The answer to those questions will help guide our answer

[@ml.5377]

@@EnglishCountryLife Hi, and thank you for your quick response. My daughter aka The Chicken Lady and I have learned a lot from your knowledge. We do have a mill where I grind whole peas, big corn, etc. We cannot get organic certified soy beans. I have black oats... Oh, and we also support a proyect that composts and provides us with dried fly larvaes. Thank you again.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ml.5377 Okay, so use your mill to grind ingredients to a fine crumb for the chicks or to near powder form and make up a mash with hot water. Your difficulty will be getting enough protein into them. Chicks grow fast & need lots of protein. In the UK it's illegal to feed animal or insect matter to chickens so cooked and ground beans are almost always included to boost protein. Your fly larvae might accomplish this, but I've no knowledge of the nutritional content of fly larvae Here is a typical organic chick crumb list of contents Wheat, Wheat Feed, Beans, Linseed, Potato Protein, Peas, Di-calcium Phosphate, Maize Gluten, Calcium Carbonate, Yeast, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Herbs, Seaweed. Vitamins: E672 Vitamin A: 6.0k iu (as retinyl acetate); E671 Vitamin D3: 3.0k iu (as cholecalciferol); E3a700 Vitamin E: 20mg (as all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) Trace elements: 33mg Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate (E1-Iron); 28mg Zinc Oxide (E6-Zinc); 64mg Manganous Oxide (E5-Manganese); 2.25mg Calcium Iodate Anhydrous (E2-Iodine); 0.33mg Sodium Selenite (E8-Selenium) Lots of trace vitamins etc but if they forage and have access to green leafy stuff their natural diet will help with that. Hope that helps

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Oh the sunflower seeds & pumpkin seeds are good btw, better hulled & definitely need grinding

[@ml.5377]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks. We do have dried lake weed which we rehydrate for then in warm water or grind to add to their feed. We use Nutri drench when needed and Rooster Booster vitamins and probiotics as well as nutritional yeast. They have feasts from our vermicompost bins and the tests on those larvaes came back with promising results. Thank you again. We are starting on our chick journey.

[@Damselfly54315]

What about meal worms? our farm store sells meal worms, at what age should Orpingtons get THOSE as treats, right now they are 3 weeks and they get ground up oatmeal in with their chick crumbles...should I start them on whole wheat grains, and how much grit do they need a day?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We put fine chick grit in a pot and let the chickens help themselves. Chicks should be fine on whole wheat from 4 weeks. It's not legal in the UK to feed chickens with Animal By Products, meat etc. this includes mealworms www.bhwt.org.uk/feeding-your-hens/#:~:text=In%202014%20Defra%20announced%20a,understand%20the%20rationale%20behind%20it.

[@HusniArsyah]

I just wondering if you suddenly grab/rub the hens and chickens, especially at the beginning of the videos, or at 7:30, what suppose to be their reaction lol.. (^_^!)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Grabbing a chicken is a REALLY bad idea - even sudden movements are. Grabbing at them makes a chicken think you are a predator & they will panic, potentially trampling their chicks and injuring themselves

[@snowmiaow]

How much wheat and peas? Free choice peas and a little wheat as a treat?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We tend to offer peas three or four times a day but wheat only once

[@petervincent4461]

At what age do yo move chicks to adult diet?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Peter, they can move onto Growers / Finishers from 4 weeks but need to be mature before moving onto layers. The point of maturity varies by breed but 22 weeks for Orpingtons

[@lin-chan1912]

Very informative videos as usual, thank you!! I live in UK as well but in urban areas, I kept only a few hens in my back garden and one of them is broody. Bought some eggs from eBay for her and it is now day 7, another 2 weeks to go＼(^^)／

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Oh hoe exciting! I hope she does well.

[@lin-chan1912]

@@Katie38689 It went very well. Mama chicken did a great job, she had 3 chicks, raised them until they are 2 months old. The chicks are now almost 3 months old, they are all independent now.