Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Mine are really picky eaters they won't eat cabbage they look at me and think what is that. It's funny, but they won't eat lettuce carrots, and a few other like leafy greens that stuff sets in there pen and decomposes. They won't even touch it they take it from me and spit it out waiting for me to give them something good.
 
My chickens love pumpkins, last year I decorated the deck with small pumpkins and my chickens ate holes in them. After that I just broke them open and threw into their run. I also clean out my freezer once a year and they get the freezer burnt food or food I feel has outlived its best by date. I recently hung ham slices for my young pullets to eat as they are currently in a small space and I wanted to give them something to pick at besides each other. They get leftover corn cobs and other vegetable scraps. I feel that they can eat almost anything we can except sugary foods and I try to limit salty foods. I have never tried watermelon but they did eat all my strawberries before they were even ripe and they also ate my raspberries and blackberries. During June and July they eat so many mulberries from the trees that grow all over my property that they barely touch their layer feed
 
How much of the table scraps can your feed your flock at a time?

A general guideline is that treats should make up no more than about 10% of a chicken’s food intake to ensure that their diet is primarily composed of a nutritionally balanced feed. However, it is by no means an exact science, so really just use your judgement when providing table scraps.

What all table scraps should and shouldn't you feed your flock?

Generally anything is fine as long as it is not too high in salt or fat, or completely rancid. Wilted greens or past produce are all fair game. However, there are a few foods that should be avoided: avocados, green potato peels, citrus, and uncooked beans (list from the Learning Center Treat Chart). There are some “seasonal” treats that are favorites for very hot or very cold temperatures; warm oatmeal for cold winter mornings and frozen watermelon for hot summer days.

How often should you give your flock table scraps?

This really depends on how plentiful your supply is. As long as you don’t feed them to excess, table scraps can be given every day, a few times a week, or once a month.
 
My birds don't get scraps very often so when we have them to give we throw them all out and if it is high on salt or sugar I don't even let them have any of it.
 
americanchicks said:
I do indeed feed mine scraps. They get something about every other day or so. I only put enough for them to eat then and there I don't like old food siting in the pen. The girls love there fruits and veggies. Watermelon I think is there fave.  I try and not give them too much pasta or meat craps. I will feed them left over scrambled eggs and even egg shells ever now and then. Make sure you crush them up I learned that the hard way with my first flock. One started eating the eggs in the coop, the nest boxes where always a goopy mess. The one thing I will not feed them is chicken! I now they will eat it not even thinking about it. Its just too creepy for me:tongue  
Click to expand...


That's the only meat I don't give them when we have turkey and chicken lunch meat I give the turkeys the chicken and the chickens the turkey meat
 
Well, I just fed mine some romaine from the garden and last nights supper.

They shredded it to pieces. I put it in a neat pile, and as soon as I came back 5 minutes later it was all over the place. Almost nothing left, but tiny shreds of lettuce laying all over the run. Wow.

Wasn't expecting that
hu.gif
 
I give ours any fruit or veggie scraps except citrus. I forget off hand what they can't have but I know there's some similarities with what dogs eat so if I'm unsure I don't give it to them. I give ours grass, fruits, veggies, and occasionally scratch since it's been hot. They LOVE blueberries, crab, watermelon, corn, shrimp and tomatoes. We let ours free range most of the day and they roam the vegetable garden and eat bugs.

I give them a small amount when I feed them scraps since they have a small stomach.
 
I have just started giving my girls yogurt, bread and a few veggie table scraps. They free range in my backyard from sunup to sundown. Regular crumble in their feeders and some scratch for treats, but I'd like to get away from that and more to table scraps.

My question is, I read somewhere that citrus is a big no-no for hens. I can see that it might be too acidic, or perhaps the pulp, but I'm not sure the real reason why. Can anyone clue me in? I tend to be curious and like to know the why's a lot!
roll.png


thanks! Karen
 
I have always given my birds some greens when I have it, after a lot of of reading today I gave them their first meal of eggs, a leftover waffle, flax meal and topped it off with a cheese burger man they went nuts over it..
 

Similar threads

D
Alternative Protein (animal scraps)?
Replies
7
Views
608
DemeterAD9
D
Nadilli
Is Big R Country Companion Organic? All Flock Pellets
Replies
5
Views
559
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
PimsGarden
    • Like
Feed recommendations/Fav Feeds
Replies
5
Views
245
Brooks_
Brooks_
C
How often do you do treats?
Replies
9
Views
526
Flair1239
F
H
    • Like
Fermented food?
2
Replies
10
Views
1K
Chickengirl209
C

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom