“No Feed” Feeding?

[CityslickerHomestead]

I read this blog about how how these urban chicken keepers essentially dumpster-dive to feed their chickens for “free”. They don’t give them commercial feed or supplements. What are your thoughts on this?

The link:
https://thriftyhomesteader.com/feed...EQ3VvT25na3VLeWxiUGtRJm09MyZ0PUFBQUFBRnozNWJv

 

[MadisonOde]

I don’t know much about that, but I would definitely be worried about them getting enough nutrients or what could be in the food, like diseases they could pick up.

 

[AmyJane725]

My thoughts are that those birds aren't getting a nutritionally balanced diet and I feel sorry for them.

 

[sourland]

They'll survive but not thrive.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

I don’t know much about that, but I would definitely be worried about them getting enough nutrients or what could be in the food, like diseases they could pick up.

Those were my thoughts as well. The author claimed there were no ill-effects that they could see and that the scraps gave them a balanced diet, so it appears to have worked out for them.

 

[Acre4Me]

The authors may have just assumed that the chickens got a balanced diet as long as none dropped dead and still laid eggs on a regular enough basis.

Human food is often too salty for chickens. Feeding too many greens, fruit is also not healthy.

However, the reason people probably went to dumpster diving in an urban environment was bc they couldn’t easily access feed or to get it delivered was pricy or porch pirates negated that convenience.

 

[Shadrach]

My concern would be the high salt and preservative content of some of the food.
I'm not a great believer in the dogma regarding commercially prepared feed. Yes it supplies the essential amino acids in the right quantities but that's about it.
If one was careful about what one took from the bins and knew a bit about nutrition this method of feeding chickens could be okay. It's the 'if' bit that concerns me.

 

[AmyJane725]

My concern would be the high salt and preservative content of some of the food.
I'm not a great believer in the dogma regarding commercially prepared feed. Yes it supplies the essential amino acids in the right quantities but that's about it.
If one was careful about what one took from the bins and knew a bit about nutrition this method of feeding chickens could be okay. It's the 'if' bit that concerns me.

That's the part I'm calling into question as well. Even if they knew what things would come together to make proper chicken food, since they're relying on dumpster food there's no guarantee they're always going to find all the components they need.

And I SERIOUSLY doubt these people know the nutritional needs of chickens and exactly how much of those things are found in different human foods. For those people here who mix their own feed, it's a precise science. Not something to be cobbled together and hope it's fine.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Like what @Shadrach said, if you knew exactly what nutrition they were getting from each food item and what was in it (also that it's not contaminated or starting to harvest bad bacteria) it may work. Of course, that is a big IF though.
I don't think I'd have the time or even enough leftovers around to do that.

I think doing something like this with healthy safe foods for chickens as enrichment would be great but maybe not a reliable way to feed them.

However, I'd find ensuring all Chickens get equal amounts of each item would be very difficult.

When my hens get a treat, one snatches a big piece, runs off and eats it all to herself. They don't nicely half pieces between themselves

I prefer having our ready nutrient balanced chicken feed there and then feed them additional foods as supplements/treats.

This isn't the worst way I've heard of people feeding chickens though.​

 

[Acre4Me]

My concern would be the high salt and preservative content of some of the food.
I'm not a great believer in the dogma regarding commercially prepared feed. Yes it supplies the essential amino acids in the right quantities but that's about it.
If one was careful about what one took from the bins and knew a bit about nutrition this method of feeding chickens could be okay. It's the 'if' bit that concerns me.

They would have to know chicken nutrition...not just general nutrition. And feed IS proper, balanced, correct nutrition for the animal and purpose for which it was made. It’s just that humans tend to apply human emotions to animals and then think that the animal appreciates the variety, etc. I feed my chickens treats on occasion, however I rely on feed as the backbone of their nutrition. Of course, I can easily source feed. Most people would not know what chickens needed or what was in the trash items they were feeding their chickens.