Food and Water

To maintain optimum health and a consistent supply of eggs you should feed your chickens layers pellets or layers mash. It contains all the protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals required by your chickens. As this will keep your chickens in tip-top condition it is best to always have this available, don’t worry about over-feeding, they will only eat as much as they need. Layers pellets are readily available at country stores and some pet shops or you can order and collect it from Widgit’s Farm.

The cost of feed
A fully grown chicken will eat about 120grams of layers pellets a day (a small cup full).
The feed that Widgit’s Birds supply is a top quality free range ration. The calculation below will show you that keeping chickens is more economical than buying eggs.
A chicken eats 0.12kg x 7 days = 0.84kg of feed a week.
25kg of layers pellets costs £12 or £12/25kg = £0.48/kg
Therefore it costs 0.84kg x £0.48/kg = £0.40 to feed one hen per week.

Cost of feed compared to cost of buying eggs
Now when we compare the cost of feeding hens to the cost of buying eggs we find that after the initial outlay (excuse the pun) keeping chickens makes you money.
Cost of box of 6 organic eggs from supermarket = £1.78
Assuming that a chicken will have one day off a week and lay 6 eggs that’s a whopping £1.36 pence saving!

Different Feeds for Different Ages

Baby Chick Crumbs

Feed to young chicks as soon after hatching as possible. Should be fed through until the chicks are 6-8 weeks old, and can be fed on a free access basis. In the week before changing to Poultry Grower Pellets, it is preferable to mix the crumbs and the pellets to ensure a gradual changeover.

Poultry Grower Pellets

Should be fed from 6-8 weeks onwards, and may be fed to appetite. Restrict the feed or mix with wheat to slow the growth rate. For birds that are to be kept as laying hens, introduce Natural Free Range Layers Pellets from 16 weeks.

Layers Pellets

Provides a complete feed for free range hens, through fresh vegetables or mixed corn may still be fed in the afternoon as a treat. This feed provides all the vitamins, minerals (including Calcium) and natural ingredients needed for a good sized egg with a natural golden yolk colour.
Feed all year round, on a free access basis. An average hens will eat 100-150g (4oz) per day. As the hen's crop can only hold about 100g it is best to give grain or mixed corn separately, later in the day, or she will be unable to eat sufficient pellets or meal.

Meal may be fed wet or dry, depending on preference.

Super Mixed Corn

For afternoon treats we use Super mixed corn. 70% Wheat with maize (Non GM), soya oil, peas, barley, oyster shell and grit.

We have our own Layer Pellets which are for sale in 25kg bags.

25kg-£10.00

You can collect the bags from us with/without purchasing your birds.

For further information, please click here