Rice For Chickens?

Is Rice Healthy For Chickens? In Mexico My Parents Used To Give This Treat To Their Flock and They Got Healthy and It's a Grain As well But Is It Healthy For Chickens To Eat Uncooked Rice? Will It Help They're Egg Laying? I Know It Will Do No Harm To Them Since It's a Grain

oops

Despite the prevalence of the urban myth, seeds don't expand in the crop of a bird. Chickens evolved to eat grains, among other things.

I am unsure about the overall nutrition of rice, but as a mix of total food it should be ok.

Chris

BellevueOmlet said:

Birds digestive systems are not designed to eat uncooked rice. It expands after they eat it and is very tough on their systems. That is why many wedding chapels forbid throwing rice, the doves, seagulls and pigions eat it can die. Cook it and it is fine.

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The above statement is totally untrue. The digestive system of a bird (chicken) is 100 percent capable of digesting uncooked rice.


Chris

RICE FOR PIGS AND POULTRY
Rice is high in energy and rich in vitamin B complex especially niacin (required for cell
metabolism) and vitamin E (antioxidant). It is also a good source of linoleic acid which is an
essential fatty acid required to maximise egg production. The oils in rice are unsaturated (ie.
have a lower melting point) and tend to form a softer fat tissue in animals if large amounts of
grain are fed. This may be overcome by reducing the level in the diet during the final weeks of
fattening. Rice hulls are of little nutritive value to livestock but are sometimes used to dilute high
energy diets.
Rations for growing and fattening pigs contain 50-70% grain as maize or sorghum or a mixture
of both, and any proportion of these cereals may be replaced by rice. However if more than 50%
of these cereals in pig and poultry rations is replaced by rough rice then feed efficiency is likely
to fall although growth rates may not be affected. In preparing rations, uncracked grains may be
fed to chickens but both the rough and dehusked grains should be finely ground for pigs
https://transact.nt.gov.au/ebiz/dbi...7BA6A055B2C671169256EFE004F65FC/$file/273.pdf

The Nutritional Value will vary on type of rice


Chris

I have a weekly "Mexican Feast" for my chickens which consists of a lb. of cooked brown rice and a quart of home canned pinto beans laced liberally with cayenne pepper. They all love it and I started it to diversify their diet a little and added the cayenne as a once a week dose to keep gape worm under control. Might have to double the amount as I have nearly doubled my flock! I think brown rice is a good feed ingredient.

As far as quality of feed, it is certainly not balanced to promote egg laying, however is is fine as a supplement as long as you don't use it as more than 15% (measured by calorie content) of their diet. Using more will upset the calcium to phosphorus ratio and protein content of the feed.

1muttsfan said:

As far as quality of feed, it is certainly not balanced to promote egg laying, however is is fine as a supplement as long as you don't use it as more than 15% (measured by calorie content) of their diet. Using more will upset the calcium to phosphorus ratio and protein content of the feed.

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I think you meant to say 15% by weight and not calorie content.
Also all other feed and or treats other than the regular feed will affect Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D3 ratio along with the Protein of a feed ration.

*Note -
Vitamin D3 is required for the normal absorption and metabolism of Calcium and Phosphorus.


Chris

Guys I am new on the forum....Where can I buy ROUGH RICE

I've never given my chickens rice till this year.

My new pullets were getting pretty skittish and I needed a quick treat to help train them to come and get them accustomed to being handled. Rice worked perfectly and was a great problem solver.

As to making it a major component of the flocks diet? It's probably going to remain a treat and an aid to training.