Birdseed Nutrition Facts

[TerryBowleg]

I have a bird feeder in my yard and my chickens of course like to eat the seed that falls on the ground. Here is the nutrition facts of the birdseed I have. Is this a fine snack?

 

[nuthatched]

It's fine, I use bulk bird feed instead of scratch. I'd be a little leary about your hens eating after/under the birds, they carry pests and diseaes.

 

[Folly's place]

Agree. Wild birds will bring mites or lice, and can carry diseases to your flock. Best to have wild bird feeders where the chickens can't get to them.
Mary

 

[TerryBowleg]

Good call outs

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Two Words:

Avian Influenza

 

[Folly's place]

More words: Mycoplasma gallisepticum

 

[Brooks_]

One more word: nature. Or two more: risk tolerance.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Marek's Disease is another.

 

[Folly's place]

We've seen a sparrow with respiratory issues twice over twenty years while living here. Both times we removed the wild bird feeders, had those sick birds eliminated, and the neighbors also removed their bird feeders for a few weeks. The sparrows die fast with MG, and according to our expert at MSU, that's what they have.
Scary both times, and we missed disaster with our chickens, who were also locked in for weeks over this.
Mary