Australorps breed Thread

[Granny368W]

I have 14 Australorp hens and I've been giving them oranges. My grandson came home from school and said that his teacher said that citrus is bad for chickens. Who is right on this issue? Rae

 

[Birdrain92]

I have 14 Australorp hens and I've been giving them oranges. My grandson came home from school and said that his teacher said that citrus is bad for chickens. Who is right on this issue? Rae

In excessive amounts it will but small amount no. I've given oranges and other citrus to my bird and have never had a problem and they are some of the healthiest birds.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Granny,
Some say ok and some say no. I have seen no proof either way. Moderation is the key to most question like this good or bad.
Here is a list of the reported bad to feed to chickens.
10 Foods Your Chickens Should Avoid

1. Plants from the nightshade family – Nightshade plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants have a toxic substance in their unripened fruit and leaves called solanine that could be harmful to your flock. Even the peels of potatoes are potentially harmful and should be avoided. If you have a large amount of leftover nightshade vegetables (potatoes or peels), cook them first and your chickens will enjoy the treat even more.
2. Salty foods – Foods containing large amounts of salt can lead to a condition known as salt poisoning, salt toxicity, hypernatremia, or water deprivation-sodium ion intoxication. The small bodies of chickens are not meant to ingest large amounts of salt. Chickens can tolerate up to 0.25% salt in drinking water but are susceptible to salt poisoning when water intake is restricted.
3. Citrus – Some varieties of chickens can be very sensitive to citrus. Many believe it is a build up of citric acid and vitamin C that can cause excessive feather plucking. That said, I have fed citrus to my chickens and they don’t care for it.
4. Onions – Onions contain a toxin substance called thiosulphate that destroys red blood cells. When excessive amounts are fed to chickens, it can cause jaundice or anemia in your hens or even death.
5. Dried or undercooked beans – Raw, or dry beans, contain a poison called hemaglutin which is toxic to birds. Cooking or sprouting the beans before serving them to chickens will kill this toxin.
6. Dry rice – If we feed them rice, we cook it beforehand. Chickens that are fed dry rice are put in danger of the rice blowing up when it is introduced to moisture and will cause a gut problem in chickens.
7. Avocado skin and pit – Chickens do not care much for avocados. They probably sense or smell the low levels of toxicity in the skin and pit.
8. Raw eggs – Introducing raw eggs to your chickens could result in your flock turning cannibal. If they are doing this, it could be a result of a deficiency in their diet or because they are stressed. Adding crushed oyster shells to their diet usually helps as well as adjusting their environment (more nesting boxes, lessen the light in the coop, etc.)
9. Candy, chocolate, sugar – Chickens do not have much of sweet tooth. In fact, they only have around 25-30 taste buds, so more than likely, they wouldn’t realize they are eating anything sweet. Further, it’s bad on their digestive tract and chocolate especially contains a toxin called methylxanthines theobromine and is poisonous to chickens. Therefore, adding sugar to their diet wouldn’t be advisable.
10. Apple seeds – Apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide that could kill your chicken. As much as chickens love apples, do them a favor and remove the seeds.

 

[seolari]

With the mixed emotions of sadness and relief I gave up my 2 cockerels. The farmer kept his word and even took them one week ahead of schedule but it was harder than I thought it would be. I think the bond that formed with all the TLC given is quite powerful.

 

[Granny368W]

Granny, Some say ok and some say no. I have seen no proof either way. Moderation is the key to most question like this good or bad. Here is a list of the reported bad to feed to chickens.
10 Foods Your Chickens Should Avoid

1. • Plants from the nightshade family – Nightshade plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants have a toxic substance in their unripened fruit and leaves called solanine that could be harmful to your flock. Even the peels of potatoes are potentially harmful and should be avoided. If you have a large amount of leftover nightshade vegetables (potatoes or peels), cook them first and your chickens will enjoy the treat even more.
   • Salty foods – Foods containing large amounts of salt can lead to a condition known as salt poisoning, salt toxicity, hypernatremia, or water deprivation-sodium ion intoxication. The small bodies of chickens are not meant to ingest large amounts of salt. Chickens can tolerate up to 0.25% salt in drinking water but are susceptible to salt poisoning when water intake is restricted.
   • Citrus – Some varieties of chickens can be very sensitive to citrus. Many believe it is a build up of citric acid and vitamin C that can cause excessive feather plucking. That said, I have fed citrus to my chickens and they don’t care for it.
   • Onions – Onions contain a toxin substance called thiosulphate that destroys red blood cells. When excessive amounts are fed to chickens, it can cause jaundice or anemia in your hens or even death.
   • Dried or undercooked beans – Raw, or dry beans, contain a poison called hemaglutin which is toxic to birds. Cooking or sprouting the beans before serving them to chickens will kill this toxin.
   • Dry rice – If we feed them rice, we cook it beforehand. Chickens that are fed dry rice are put in danger of the rice blowing up when it is introduced to moisture and will cause a gut problem in chickens.
   • Avocado skin and pit – Chickens do not care much for avocados. They probably sense or smell the low levels of toxicity in the skin and pit.
   • Raw eggs – Introducing raw eggs to your chickens could result in your flock turning cannibal. If they are doing this, it could be a result of a deficiency in their diet or because they are stressed. Adding crushed oyster shells to their diet usually helps as well as adjusting their environment (more nesting boxes, lessen the light in the coop, etc.)
   • Candy, chocolate, sugar – Chickens do not have much of sweet tooth. In fact, they only have around 25-30 taste buds, so more than likely, they wouldn’t realize they are eating anything sweet. Further, it’s bad on their digestive tract and chocolate especially contains a toxin called methylxanthines theobromine and is poisonous to chickens. Therefore, adding sugar to their diet wouldn’t be advisable.
   • Apple seeds – Apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide that could kill your chicken. As much as chickens love apples, do them a favor and remove the seeds.

Thank you so much for that information. I have 14 and I only feed them a few every few weeks. Mine just love them. Rae

 

[duluthralphie]

Soimeone should give that list to my chickens. They love Tomatoes.. They try to beat us to them, and most the time they do.

 

[Birdrain92]

My chickens get tomatoes, potato skins, onions, peppers, and if I have broken egg that is oozing I throw it to them. The only time I get broken eggs is when I have 12 eggs in one nesting box. I have 12 freshly clean nesting boxes but my girls will only us 3-5 nesting boxes.

 

[sonoralinda]

Here's a picture of my little "Ebony", first day in the permenant coop. She's my first Australorp and my favorite out of 3 Wyandottes and a Barnevelder.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: I too have given them most of the foods on the List
Except dried beans ..Moderation is the key ..
I put orange peels in the coop for a nice smell ..I wonder why they keep disappearing ?
Everyone says chickens dont like them ...No one told my chickens either ..LOL

Also I have heard of some breeders putting orange pieces in with chicks they ship ...if something happens to them they have something to sustain them

 

[hellbender]

Our chickens have eaten bushels upon bushels of apples (seeds and all) for over 70 years with no apparent problems, other than just a bit of loose stool when they first begin to drop. We have a few varieties that provide fruit from mid to late June, way up into the fall. It really takes a bite out of our feed bill, especially when all other 'free' are considered.

Also, we do feed our birds Fermented Feed, (grains only) and that is done year 'round. Included in the grain mix is about 25 to 30 percent BROWN rice...not cooked but as indicated, strongly fermented.

Have never seen any 'down-side' to the ration at all, at least not yet. I suppose it might take more that 7 decades for some adverse conditions to manifest themselves.