Keeping Chickens Newsletter

Subscriber Letters

Staci Miller : Thanks for the newsletter. I have enjoyed it very much. I did a little searching through it, but have not seen mention of 'winter mashes'. A friends' mother told me she remembers that her father used to feed his hens a mash of some sort to keep them laying through the winter. My hens are this springs hatch so they are still young, but were laying beautifully up until about 10 days ago. I have a nice warm coop for them, and we have only had 2 frosty mornings so far. I have lights on a timer, so they have light at 6:30 am until 9:00 pm. I'm wondering if they need a little something extra? They get free feed layer pellets, oyster shell and plenty of scratch at night before roosting. If you have any recipes for such a thing (the mash), I would love to see them.

My Reply : I haven't seen anything specifically called a 'Winter Mash' but things like corn are naturally warming to them and so can be good to give them a little added to their meal if it is cold. Generally chickens are quite cold hardy and as long as the coop is dry and not drafty their own bodies generate a lot of heat (having a thermometer inside the coop will give you an idea of what temperature they are actually experiencing). There are a few mash recipes included in the 200 Eggs Chicken Care Guide (used by various poultry farmers of 'the old days'). It also includes details on food values and what a chicken needs so you can devise your own aswell. Here's one winter time mash recipe for laying hens that may help :

"From October to May I feed as follows: A mash the first thing in the morning. The mash is made as I am about to describe. Into an iron kettle holding 12 quarts I put two quarts (dry measure) cut clover, two quarts mixed feed or wheat bran, two quarts corn meal, one quart green ground bone or beef scraps, and one quart table scraps. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed together. I then take the kettle into the house and set it on the range where the metal can become warm. I next stir in a heaping teaspoonful of coarse-fine salt, and in the coldest weather sprinkle in a little black pepper. Boiling water is then added to the mash in just sufficient quantity to moisten every particle and yet not have it sticky and sloppy. I consider the mash just right to feed when I can take some up in my hand and have it feel pleasantly warm (not hot), and dry enough so that it will not adhere to the palm or fingers. Some advocate dry feeding. I have no doubt the food is just as nourishing without the water, and after they become accustomed to it (or starved into it) the hens will eat it readily enough; but before the food can be digested it must be moistened,