Can I feed my free range chickens Meat? If so, What kinds?

[mandyplo]

My father and I have just finished building a chicken run/tractor for a couple of backyard chickens, and we`ve been told that they can be fed table scraps. We bought a sack of seed for them and feed them seed along with the table scraps, and they are doing very well! I know that feeding them chicken meat is a No-No, But, today we cooked pork chops for dinner, and we kept some of the raw leftovers to feed to the chickens. Is raw meat okay? Or, is pork okay for that matter? or Beef? I also know that avocado and raw potatoes are not allowed for them, but what about cooked/boiled/baked potato?

Any opinions on what is safe to feed my backyard chickens and whats not safe to feed them would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!
- the Plotzki flock

 

[calicokat]

At our house there's a rule if you feed them chicken (cooked of course) we have to toss it out for them and say "Tastes like People!"

 

[technodoll]

I feed my flock raw meat every day with their warm cooked breakfast grain fiesta, they go nuts for it!

They pick out the meat bits and run around screaming "i got it! i got it!" - LOL

Never seen any animal cook their food...

 

[RocketDad]

I don't feed raw meat on a daily basis and I will not cook it for them until I SEE THEM SET UP A B-B-QUE IN THE RUN.

In theory I agree. I give my cat small treats of raw meat once in a while too. My concern is that e coli and salmonella present in small amounts (virtually guaranteed with packaged raw food) can breed and multiply in the time between the meat coming out of the fridge and the trimmings going to the hens. Remember, "keep hot food hot, and cold food cold." So if meat bits are going to sit around on the counter in the "treats bucket" for a while, I cook it. I handle my chickens and I rather not worry about them making me or my kids sick, even if the hens themselves don't succumb.

As far as mad chicken disease, how would you know?

 

[Yogaliciouschick]

You can feed your chickens meat, but personally I think that it is very gross. In a chickens typical diet they do eat "meat" like bugs and sometimes frogs and mice but not any large animals. Raw meat can have bacteria that can make them sick. I would avoid meat, feed them veggie scraps and then you don't have to worry about anything. But this is advice from a vegetarian, I don't feed my chickens anything I would not eat, as in nothing to old, moldy or just plan gross (including meat). But your chickens your choice. Best of luck!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Pretty much anything that is not salty. Too much salt will kill a chicken. I don't give them ham or heavily seasoned salted meats, but they can have tuna, sardines, or anything. Just check labels and if you cook it yourself remember nothing heavy in salt.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

I know of several people that feed their chickens cooked chicken, did you mean raw chicken? I heard cooked meat is good protein as long as their treats. As long as you keep the salt to a minimum and the meat isn't too fatty. I'm sure you can feed cooked beans and potato.

 

[teach1rusl]

You're the 2nd person today to mention something about it being a no-no to feed your flock meat. I've never heard that. I give my girls (cooked) meat scraps whenever I have them (which isn't often, since I have a teenaged boy who loves meat...lol), and they are healthy and laying very well. I give them anything I would eat myself, and nothing I wouldn't eat myself, that's what I go by. I've given mine mashed potatoes (which they love...but I limit them because I think they're too starchy); so baked potatoes would be no different.

ETA: okay...not anything. I don't give them candy bars and such...lol. But point being, I've given them pork, turkey, chicken, etc. Protein, protein, protein...

 

[mandyplo]

Thanks for the feedback everyone

And I just meant any chicken in general, I heard from a couple of people now that its not the best idea to feed them chicken meat, as this is how mad cow disease started, From cows eating beef. I don`t know the details but thats just what Ive heard

So, raw meat is probably better than cooked meat because there would be no spices/seasoning/salt on the meat yet, correct?

and Thanks again, I think I will feed them meat as an occasional ``treat`` just to be on the safe side.

 

[yotetrapper]

Mine get meat all the time, including chicken! They love chicken!