WHY ARE MEAT SCRAPS BAD FOR CHICKENS?

[Fawn and Fam]

I know some people give their chickens meat scraps but most don't. I'm just curious why exactly is it not good for them?

 

[Martine1]

Chickens as a whole can benefit more from eating raw meat than cooked!
If you have a cannibalism problem, some raw liver chopped up, cows liver, or blood from an abattoir does the trick.
They are simply doing what nature intended: As a genetic strain, the domestic fowl originated in the jungle fowl still found in the jungles of Sumatra today.
These birds live on insects and will kill small birds if they can.
They are omnivorous, but like meat make no mistake.
Most of their protein is obtained by eating bugs, lizards, any meat they can find on the jungle floor.
This is why a diet for the domestic MUST contain protein, fats ( lots of fat in an insect), lactose, fructose (fruit), as well as seeds.
When these things are missing in the diet you get cannibalism, deformed birds, weak chicks and unexplained deaths. The uniformity of the flock suffers, and you get stunted birds with all the accompanying associated diseases: Mycoplasma, water around the heart, Mareks, Newcastle, Bronchitis, IBD and more.
M

 

[SilkiesForEver]

I give my birds meat scraps..... I've never heard they were bad, nor have I ever had problems in giving my birds meat. I am interested to hear what others say..

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Well that can be good in some cases, but I prefer not to feed them roadkill, which can promote them to eat dead animals lying on the ground. Who knows what kind of diseases they can carry.

They are chickens
They CAN safely eat such things

Feeding them meat doesn't "promote" them to eat anything, since they INSTINCTIVELY eat meat they find

It's all natural

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Feathers are a non--DIGESTABLE form of protein (Keratin)

They just pass through for the most part

 

[Maran momma]

I had no idea about this. I suppose its banned in NSW as well?

I gave ours left over steak for breakfast this morning blissfully unaware I was probably breaking the law.

I wouldn’t think your government will be looking over your shoulder to see what your feeding your birds.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Meat isn't "bad" for chickens
Our chickens get ALL scraps that we don't give to the dogs

 

[Veer67]

I wouldn't say that meat is bad for them, chickens are omnivores and they will eat frogs, mice, and dead animals that they find on the ground. I think that most people don't feed their chickens meat because they feel that it's disturbing. I don't feed my chickens meat scraps but I do let them eat what they catch. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/501982/can-you-feed-your-chickens-meat

 

[ziggyboy]

The thread starter did not say where he/she is from. This practice is banned in some countries.

In Australia it is actually illegal to feed chickens meat scraps. We call it "swill feeding". Here's a webpage from our government: http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/animal-i...d-diseases/protect-your-animals/swill-feeding

 

[jak2002003]

The thread starter did not say where he/she is from. This practice is banned in some countries.

In Australia it is actually illegal to feed chickens meat scraps. We call it "swill feeding". Here's a webpage from our government: http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/animal-i...d-diseases/protect-your-animals/swill-feeding

.......I thought our UK government was crazy with all its laws.

People are not talking about feeding imported raw meet by the bucket load as a cheap food for their chickens.

Feeding cooked meat leftovers from the family meal will not give any diseases to the chickens.