Alfalfa pellets for chickens?

[best-nestin']

I am a newbie to the whole chicken thing, and so this maybe a stupid question. I was able to purchase some alfalfa pellets for an EXTREMELY cheap price. I was wondering if I can feed that to my chickens mixed in with the regular laying pellets that I currently feed them? I would like to be able to get the cheaper feed( which only has 12% protein) and supplement with the alfalfa pellets, because they are high in protein. Can I do that?

 

[jbowyer01]

I have a pet rabbit and I usually throw out a large cup of alfalfa pellets for the chickens to scratch at while locked in the run. I havent had any problems. I dont know about long term use combined with feed. But its an interesting question, hope someone can give you a better answer.

 

[sandypaws]

anytime i soak the horses pellet in water (they swell) i throw a handful at the chickens and they LOVE it... dont know about feeding them the pellet with the layer tho??? dont see why not???, as long as it is not too much

 

[best-nestin']

sandypaws wrote

as long as it is not too much

How much is too much? Don't we want them to get as much protein as possible?​

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I give it to all of my chickens and waterfowl. I just use it as a supplement on top of the food.

 

[sandypaws]

i am by NO means an xpert... but if i personally was going to feed it i would say NO more than 1/4 % ... 3 scoops lay crumble 1 scoop alfalf. pellets... just because it is not formulated FOR chickens,, it is formulated for grazers


anybody else????

 

[briteday]

It looks to me like alfalfa pellets are 15-20% protein. My layer pellets are 16% protein and I can get gamebird pellets at 20% protein.

If I got the alfalfa really cheap I might use it. However, it appears that it is not that much higher in protein than layer pellets. But if you want to increase protein I would go with gamebird pellets.

Maybe someone could look on a bag of the alfalfa pellets and see if there is a nutritional analysis listing protein content.

 

[bantyman]

Hey all

Do you soak the alfalfa pelletts or just give them dry?

Mike

 

[onthespot]

and make sure you have free choice oystershell so they have plenty of calcium for making their eggshells. The alfalfa pellets would possibly drop their mineral content they need for egg production.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I just feed them dry.