Can Chicken eat wheat as a treat?

[osiel]

I noticed my chickens eat wheat more than corn and milo when I give the scratch as a treat. So I bought a bag of wheat to give to them as a treat. Can I mix wheat with their layer feed? Or is wheat not a good feed for chickens?

 

[N F C]

According to a small blurb I read in Grit Magazine the other day, wheat can be used as a scratch grain (like corn is). Wheat's not a complete source of nutrition like layer crumbles or pellets but it can be used as a treat.

 

[donrae]

I wouldn't mix it, but there's nothing wrong with buying it separate and feeding it as a treat. I'm surprised your birds ate it better than the corn, mine always leave the wheat for dead last.

 

[osiel]

Thanks, I was surprised to find out my chickens really don't like corn. They prefer to eat wheat than Milo or corn. Which I thought was odd because everyone says how chickens love corn. Mine will barely peck at it!

 

[RJSorensen]

Hello,

And my birds like wheat as well, I use it as a higher grade of scratch, milo and cracked corn are not liked so much around my coops. I would not put wheat, or any grain in with the feed, the birds may start to bill the lay feed out, to get to the grain. Use it as a treat, as scratch and just toss your offering on the ground for them to hunt and peck for. Try to limit the amount of scratch offered to your flock, they like it, but it is not as good for them as a complete lay ration.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[RonP]

My scratch "food" has wheat and corn.

I feed it to them with moderation, just to keep them busy scratching.

 

[pdirt]

Like others have said, it's best not to mix in other ingredients to your formulated feed. Unless you really know what you're doing, which can quickly get complicated with calculations, measurements, mixing, additional protein, additional vitamin/mineral pre-mix and documenting the results, etc. Doing so will likely throw off the balance of vitamins and minerals in your feed, as well as lower the protein content with a grain like wheat. Wheat is a good food for them, but like everything else, in balance with the other nutrition they're getting. I'd say keep it simple and just offer it as a treat.