BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Feeding sick hen dry cat food?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Feeding sick hen dry cat food?

post #1 of 7
3/6/12 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 

I know someone who's hen is sick, and they don't feed their hens chicken feed, they let them forage all day and feed them cracked corn mix. Is it ok to feed the hen moisten dry cat food because it has more protien?

Due to a little thing called chicken math, we now have 9 hens, about a year ago, we only started out with two! Our ladies nicknamed "the big hens" are  Lacey (Speckled Sussex), Lilly (BLR Wyandotte), Maizie (ISA Brown), Molly (Very Grumpy Barnevelder), Juliet (Silver Penciled Wyandotte), Delilah (Very Grumpy Welsummer), and the latest addition Lucy (Very Bossy Barred Rock). Last but not...

Reply

Due to a little thing called chicken math, we now have 9 hens, about a year ago, we only started out with two! Our ladies nicknamed "the big hens" are  Lacey (Speckled Sussex), Lilly (BLR Wyandotte), Maizie (ISA Brown), Molly (Very Grumpy Barnevelder), Juliet (Silver Penciled Wyandotte), Delilah (Very Grumpy Welsummer), and the latest addition Lucy (Very Bossy Barred Rock). Last but not...

Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Free range? Yea or nay?
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?
post #2 of 7
3/7/12 at 3:24am

I usually mix some yogurt with a little laying mash, when they are sick.  Is cat food less expensive than chicken food?

 

Reply
Reply
post #3 of 7
3/7/12 at 5:15am

a little cat food won't hurt them.  I give mine scrambled eggs, good protein and easy for them to eat.

4-EasterEgger, 3-Blk Australorps, 2-Silver Laced Wyandotts, 1 - gold laced Wyandott, 3-RIR, 1-Light Brahma, 2- Buff Orpingtons, 1  -Blue Rock, 1 - Delaware,  1 - Wheaten Maran, 2 - Cockoo Marans , 5 - Blk Minorcas, 1 - Buff Minorca, 3- Barred rocks, 2- White Giants, 2-great danes, 1-GSH, about 200+ Mexican Free Tailed bats

Reply

4-EasterEgger, 3-Blk Australorps, 2-Silver Laced Wyandotts, 1 - gold laced Wyandott, 3-RIR, 1-Light Brahma, 2- Buff Orpingtons, 1  -Blue Rock, 1 - Delaware,  1 - Wheaten Maran, 2 - Cockoo Marans , 5 - Blk Minorcas, 1 - Buff Minorca, 3- Barred rocks, 2- White Giants, 2-great danes, 1-GSH, about 200+ Mexican Free Tailed bats

Reply
post #4 of 7
3/7/12 at 5:25am

What's silly about that is scratch feed is almost the same price as layer feed. I don't understand why they don't just feed (even if they want to control/limit the amount) a more balanced diet with higher protein for the same money.

 

Many folks feed cat food to chickens for an on hand very high protein boost. Some swear by it to speed up egg laying after molt. It may help a sick bird, high energy and vitamin food certainly wouldn't hurt it.

There's so little to fear from hatching even chickens dare. In fact, it's so easy a turkey can do it.

Reply

There's so little to fear from hatching even chickens dare. In fact, it's so easy a turkey can do it.

Reply
post #5 of 7
3/7/12 at 6:30am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by LilyLovesBugs View Post

I know someone who's hen is sick, and they don't feed their hens chicken feed, they let them forage all day and feed them cracked corn mix. Is it ok to feed the hen moisten dry cat food because it has more protien?


The hen is most likely malnourished and has a weak immune system so the best thing that they can do is start feeding chicken feed and maybe put some electrolytes in the water for a week or two. .   

Once the hen is on chicken feed of 4 or 5 day then they may want to hit her with a good wormer and poultry dust.

 

 

Chris 

 

 

 

NPIP # 31-516
Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities http://sppa.webs.com/

Breeding Large Fowl Single and Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds to APA Standard


"I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman's cares." – 

George Washington

Reply

 

NPIP # 31-516
Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities http://sppa.webs.com/

Breeding Large Fowl Single and Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds to APA Standard


"I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman's cares." – 

George Washington

Reply
post #6 of 7
3/7/12 at 9:48am

Catfood has more sodium in it than layer feed, not good for a chicken.


Edited by dawg53 - 3/7/12 at 9:50am


     Most people have no clue...think about it:   Forewarned is Forearmed

Reply


     Most people have no clue...think about it:   Forewarned is Forearmed

Reply
post #7 of 7
3/8/12 at 9:09pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks everyone! I haven't seen her hen today, but she put it with the rest of the chickens because it's doing so well. They are going to buy chicken feed next time I think.

 

Due to a little thing called chicken math, we now have 9 hens, about a year ago, we only started out with two! Our ladies nicknamed "the big hens" are  Lacey (Speckled Sussex), Lilly (BLR Wyandotte), Maizie (ISA Brown), Molly (Very Grumpy Barnevelder), Juliet (Silver Penciled Wyandotte), Delilah (Very Grumpy Welsummer), and the latest addition Lucy (Very Bossy Barred Rock). Last but not...

Reply

Due to a little thing called chicken math, we now have 9 hens, about a year ago, we only started out with two! Our ladies nicknamed "the big hens" are  Lacey (Speckled Sussex), Lilly (BLR Wyandotte), Maizie (ISA Brown), Molly (Very Grumpy Barnevelder), Juliet (Silver Penciled Wyandotte), Delilah (Very Grumpy Welsummer), and the latest addition Lucy (Very Bossy Barred Rock). Last but not...

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Feeding & Watering Your Flock

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Free range? Yea or nay?
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Feeding sick hen dry cat food?