Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

[Dhkoenig]

I also give my girls "treats" every day, mostly scraps. I do try to watch the sodium content and I seldom give them anything that's highly processed. So, you might check the salt in what they are getting and maybe trade out the processed rice rolls with unsalted popcorn. Also, have you tried giving them layer crumbles instead of pellets? Mine will eat the pellets and there is definitely less waste with pellets, but they eat a lot more of the crumbles. Some of the crumbles do wind up on the ground, but they eat most of what falls to the ground too. I went back over many of the treads about poppy butt on this forum and there was a lot of information on how to deal with it, but not much on cause and effect. Some suggestions concerning possible worm/lice/mite infestation. None that I found that had a definitive answer and as with most topics discussed here and elsewhere, there are plenty of conflicting viewpoints. Might just become a trial and error thing. Eliminate certain foods, add others (like the crumbles) see how they respond. My personal experience involved one buff orphington who started getting poopy butt from the time she was just weeks old and eating nothing but chick starter food. She continued getting poopy butt up until about 3 yrs old. I bathed her, trimmed her fluffy butt, nothing lasted for long. Then she suddenly stop getting it. Maybe b/c her feathering, once she matured, became less of a problem. I have no idea, just know that she no longer gets it. She is going 6 yrs old now. Hopefully someone with more experience than I will be able to give you better advice. Best of luck and keep us informed on how things work out.

Wow thanks for such a thoughtful reply! Yeah I kind-of think it will be process of elimination. I cannot believe it but the two that had it actually let me chop it right off of them. It was dried up and nasty so I just went out there with scissors and they just stood there while I clipped it off! Mine won't even let me hold them but they let me do that!! Meanwhile I found some layer feed that is not pellets. I am trying two kinds. Supposedly they contain all of what is in the pellets but it is not in pellet form. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PS24841/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. and. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PS24841/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Susan Dye]

Wow thanks for such a thoughtful reply! Yeah I kind-of think it will be process of elimination. I cannot believe it but the two that had it actually let me chop it right off of them. It was dried up and nasty so I just went out there with scissors and they just stood there while I clipped it off! Mine won't even let me hold them but they let me do that!! Meanwhile I found some layer feed that is not pellets. I am trying two kinds. Supposedly they contain all of what is in the pellets but it is not in pellet form. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PS24841/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. and. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PS24841/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's great that you were able to trim those poopy butts! So satisfying to get rid of it that easily. Now, if you have a farm supply store, like Tractor Supply, or even a Walmart, nearby you will find layer crumbles a lot cheaper than Amazon. Though you will have to buy in larger quantities. Tractor Supply sells mostly in 50 lb bags, unless you buy organic which is usually a lot more $ in 35 lb bags. Walmart sells 40 lb bags usually under $,. about what TS sells for in 50 lb size. Not sure if all Walmart stores sell feed. Mine offers it in store, but also offers more of a selection if ordered through their web site as pickup/delivered or walmart.com for store pickup.

 

[Bonnieboo]

My babies love left overs. I discovered recently that they go nuts for cauliflower! I dare not put my fingers in the fray to move the cauli or them, I will lose several fingertips!