Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi Everyone

Can anyone tell me why my hens don't like barley I feed them a mixture of layer's pellets, mixed corn, and barley. they always leave the barley

Any thoughts

Regards

Arnie

Hens are no different to us, and have preferences, mine love lettuce, greens especially with any wildlife still on them, corn on the cob, squishy tomatoes, strawberries, melon and cucumber - seeds first then the flesh!

Hi Arnie

I feed my hens on 1 part mixed corn to 4 parts layers pellets twice a day. The corn contains mostly whole wheat with smaller proportions of cracked maize and sunflower seeds. The hens eat, in order of preference, sunflower seeds, maize, wheat, pellets. Anything left is only pellets, which the ducks finish off at bedtime. I have no experience of feeding barley. All I can say is: if yours won't eat barley, don't feed barley.

Hi Everyone,

Isn't this typical I have fussy bloody hens Now what to do with 2 large bags of barley.

Regards

Arnie

1 make malt.
2 brew beer.
3 enjoy.

Hi Peter,

Like that waste not want not looks like a vist to google

Regards

Arnie

You could try not giving them a choice. Give them their usual feed in the morning but try just the barley as a scratch feed in the evening. If they really don't like it there is no way of persuading them to eat it.

John

Arnie

Just out of interest, why did you feed barley as well as mixed corn and pellets?

Hi Alan

Just to bulk out there feed I did a favour for a friend (as you do) and a couple of weeks later he turned up with 2 bags of barley and not wanting to appear rude I accepted them. I have mate who's son's a gamekeeper so it will not go to waste, as he rears a small number of pheasant

Regards

Arnie

Hi Arnie,
Barley is generally rolled like Oats before being offered to any livestock.
I very much doubt that you have the facility to roll some but try putting some in something like a coffee grinder and give it just a couple of short presses on the button to break the surface and see if they will take to it then.
JB.

Hi Johnboy

Nice one, I will give that a try and get back to you

Regards

Arnie