Chickens:Cheapest Layers Pellets : Feed, Grain etc

grahamc2003

Sorry, I didn't make it clear. I don't feed mine grass, they help themselves to it, straight off the lawn. The problem mine had, judging by examining the sausage shaped ball of dirty grass which appeared, was long 'stalks' of grass - the kind which produce seed heads (yes, it hadn't been mowed at all this year until recently when I bought a new mower, my other one refusing to start). So normally, mine manage fine eating normal length grass straight off the lawn, although it's never occured to me to actually feed them grass cuttings. Of the other stuff they get, their favorite seems to be spaghetti which they go wild for.

celerity

When our bantam got crop bound we were advised (via the "omlet" forums) to squirt a bit of olive oil down her throat and massage her crop every evening. I have no idea if this helped but we did it for a few evenings and she was fine.

grahamc2003 wrote: »

Of the other stuff they get, their favorite seems to be spaghetti which they go wild for.

This month our chickens have been enjoying boiled rice, pasta twirls, sliced strawberries and some old poppyseed crackers which they enjoy smashing to pieces and wolfing down.

/\dam

doodlesmum

We pay if i remember rightly about £7.80 for bag layers pellets 25kg from a farm supply shop just down the road from me.I"m in Middle England.We use this for both our chickens and ducks .

Flibbertygibbet

celerity wrote: »

Brief summary: We've been advised from many sources not to give chickens grass cuttings, as it can cause them to become crop bound.

I have fed short grass mowings a handful per 3 birds or so, twice a week when I can get it with no probs for years BUT our first ever experience with crop binding was when they escaped and free ranged in the long grass.

Yes a teaspoon of olive oil twice daily and a crop massage did the trick.
:T

ceefercat

Flibbertygibbet wrote: »

Mole valley farmers layers pellets now 8.15 for 25kg in South west.
Can anyone improve on that?

I just came across this thread while searching for a code for free delivery from Mole Valley Farmers as I'm not sure where I found it.

Oh the good old days! I bought a bag of MVF 25kg layers pellets on Tuesday and the price is now £9.10 :eek: although they did go down in price to £8.20 a few months ago, but the price has risen every time I return. I have no idea how much I would have to charge for my hens' eggs to make any profit so I've only put them up by 20p in the last few months.

jimjames

It may no longer be relevant but it is also worth checking the quality of the layers pellets as the cheapest may not be the best.

Back in the 1980s I bought some from a farm at a bargain price only to find when I got home that it was mixed with dried chicken droppings presumably to cut their costs. It probably is outlawed now as this was in the pre-BSE (actually the main BSE infection era) and controls may outlaw it but the nutritional quality may well vary on the cheapest brands.

Bunny82

I'm finding it difficult lately not to find a bag of pellets which hasn't got a good couple of inches of dust in the bottom. Cheapest around here is Countrywide own brand at £7.99 for 20kg. Still pretty dusty though.

alandbailey

I usually buy MVF layer pellets - they are now £9.70/25kg:(.
As my hens get my leftover meals and kitchen scraps, mainly meat, would they be OK on just eating mixed corn (which they prefer)?
What price do you sell chicken eggs now - also duck eggs?

Gigervamp

We use Allan and Page Smallholder pellets. They're really good quality and around £9.90 for a 20 kilo sack.

BTW, it is actually illegal to feed chickens food from your kitchen and although I think it's impossible to police, if you're selling eggs and someone falls ill, you'll be in a whole heap of trouble if you're investigated.

pawsies

20kg for 9.99 up in East Yorkshire- at local garden centre