BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Beer can]

Plan on growing plenty of swiss chard and kale to feed them in the winter when they are not free ranging.

 

[Beekissed]

I am limited in the commercial feeds I can buy. We are Organic and as such we have stringent standards to follow. My husband was involved in writing the NOP (National Organic Program) during his young rabid years, so it is deeply important to us.

That said I am thinking about saving organ meats in the freezer.

What are everyones thoughts on the type of animal you feed your chickens? I've noticed some of you feed chicken to your chickens.

I only feed MY chicken parts to my chickens and also deer harvested here on my land...I'd never feed them actual meats from another source on a regular basis, no more than I eat meat from another source on a regular basis. Not healthy food out there.

My flock also consume snakes, frogs, mice, and frogs here on a regular basis and I encourage the habitat of these kinds of creatures for just that purpose....there's one eastern brown snake that has provided many, many meals for my flock with her offspring, so she gets to stay around to make more.

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

Plan on growing plenty of swiss chard and kale to feed them in the winter when they are not free ranging.

We are lucky to have fields that we can throw seed out on and use a harrow to get some variety going on. Kale is a favorite but I am hard pressed to get my hens to eat Chard! It's high in calcium, which is a bummer they pick around them. I believe if I left them on the piece of ground long enough they would eat it though! Beets are good too. Usually they eat the greens and we dig the roots.

I only ask about the meat thing because it is controversial everywhere--including our house. I think our own birds are fine, but hubby screams mad cow. LOL

We have some great bean cooperatives here in Oregon. I am hooking up with them in hopes of buying the broken cast offs at a low rate. Soak them overnight in water on the wood stove and serve the next day in cold months!

 

[hellbender]

Heron's Nest Farm, A while back last year a real controversial discussion exploded in regards to using other animals for feed. A commenter wanted to create meat birds for the purpose of feeding the rest of her flock. It created a real hornets nest! There are tons of supplemented products including meat that chickens can consume. Table scraps of veggies and such are common to offset feed costs and basically treat your birds. I dont know how much protein one could expect from using organ byproducts. I can only assume they are pretty proficient? Although I dont use meat, I do use as many green and leafy vegetables as I can. Wish you luck as feed is expensive.

I truthfully haven't caught up on all posts that I missed while I was away but I don't think that 'hornet's nest' was on this thread because, short of feeding human children, other high primates or animals on the national or world wide endangered species lists, I don't think there is any animals that are off limits to feed one's chickens.

RON

 

[Our Roost]

Heron's Nest Farm, hey! if you feed them organ meat, so be it. I'm not one to turn down a free meal and I bet the chickens wont either. Go for it!

 

[Kev]

Heron's Nest Farm, hey! if you feed them organ meat, so be it. I'm not one to turn down a free meal and I bet the chickens wont either. Go for it!

Back when most of the chickens were totally free range- sleep in trees and all that- they would gather around when I was butchering... can confirm they thought organs are DELICIOUS... except intestines- they acted like those taste horrible even when totally empty.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine beg at the butcher table as well...they love their flock mate's livers, spleen, testicles and any fat that can be gleaned and also any crop or gizzard contents. They also lick the blood off the butchering post/tree. They won't touch the lungs, though. The rest of the organs I keep.

 

[hellbender]

Back when most of the chickens were totally free range- sleep in trees and all that- they would gather around when I was butchering... can confirm they thought organs are DELICIOUS... except intestines- they acted like those taste horrible even when totally empty.

Kev, if you had cooked them for 'em, they would have gobbled them down...with a little garlic powder, pinch of black pepper...

 

[Kev]

Mine beg at the butcher table as well...they love their flock mate's livers, spleen, testicles and any fat that can be gleaned and also any crop or gizzard contents. They also lick the blood off the butchering post/tree. They won't touch the lungs, though. The rest of the organs I keep.

Haha I feel better about not being the only one who tosses pieces to the flockmates at butchering time...

LOL Ron!

 

[hellbender]

Haha I feel better about not being the only one who tosses pieces to the flockmates at butchering time...

LOL Ron!

X3...I strongly suspect many folks get mugged at the butcher block.