We are getting 5 chickens, one duck, and a rooster tommorow. My husband has built a hen house. We put hay on the bottom for easy cleaning (like litter). Is that safe?? Do they eat the hay like other animals?
2007-02-20 06:47:06 · 13 answers · asked by Julia A 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
They may peck at the hay, but they won't really eat it. They like to find their own food the best. If you can let them scavenge in your yard, they'll love it.
Let them roost in the coop for a few days and then start letting them out for short periods. They will return to their roost at night, and you can lock them in to protect from predators. They will eat grass and bugs. even small snakes lizards and mice.
They also need to pick up small piece of gravel which they store internally in their gullet to grind up food since they have no teeth.
If they can't go free range or even if they do, they like scraps too. carrot, apple, and potato peelings. The tops of celery. watermelon rinds. most vegetables and fruits are okay.
Also give them eggshells. they will eat them to maintain their calcium level. this makes their own eggs have harder shells and keeps them from canabelizing their own eggs and each other for protien.
2007-02-20 07:06:10 · answer #1 · answered by Twila G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chickens love to nest in hay! They will eat some green feed like alfalfa but do best on chicken scratch or a blended feed if confined. Your duck can eat scratch too. Commercial duck food is also available.
By all means let them play in the yard. They love bugs. Don't let them play around your favorite plants or poisonous plants though.
My hens think my carnations are dessert that I grow for their enjoyment!
They have to have fresh water everyday. Try feeding them from your hand,develope a trusting relationship with the rooster now so he won't get aggressive with you later when he becomes mature. Let the duck play in water from time to time. I bought mine a kiddie pool and it's a blast watching him zip around.
Have fun and enjoy.
2007-02-23 17:37:10 · answer #2 · answered by c m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is safe, but they don't eat hay so don't plan on that as their feed. They will play with the hay though.
The best feed I have found is just simply wheat. I found my chickens were picking out the grain they didn't like with the chicken feed and wasting it, but they don't do that with the wheat.
2007-02-20 07:08:34 · answer #3 · answered by toomeymimi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope..
Chickens & Ducks cannot live on hay for food...
Go to a feed store and buy some chicken feed...
2007-02-20 06:56:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We raise chickens, They live on hay just fine. They are not interested in eating it.
2007-02-20 07:03:10 · answer #5 · answered by Grandma Shorty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a common length rooster desires a minimum of two sq. feet consistent with chicken. The chickens could initiate laying on their own after 18 weeks of age. they prefer as much as sixteen hours of sunshine an afternoon for optimal egg laying, yet will lay with much less, possibly only fewer eggs. you ought to easily positioned an exact excessive of the hutch to make it cozier and that they could lay eggs in that section while they settle in. on occasion takes as much as a month to get them to start laying. do no longer experience undesirable a pair of rabbit hutch... the economic egg layers would have 6 chickens in what you have 2 in!
2016-11-24 20:31:23 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is common to put things in chicken feed that will kill a duck
2007-02-22 17:43:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they might eat some of it but they can't live from it.
they need full grain cereal to get vitamins.oh.and don't feed them bread.
don't forget about the water :)
2007-02-20 06:50:17 · answer #8 · answered by flaming red 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is safe and no they don't eat hay
2007-02-20 06:49:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is very safe!...um and they dont eat hay that would...well...nvm lol
2007-02-20 06:50:21 · answer #10 · answered by AmandaNic™ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋