Cat food for hens?????

[l'oeuf]

We bought our hens a couple months ago, and the guy we bought them from, who seemed to know a lot about laying hens, suggested giving them cat food every once in a while, to give them some extra protein. I'm curious to know if other people have heard about this, or think this is a sound practice. Also, would it be wet cat food or dry? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for either where to get oyster shells online, or a good substitute for them? We're landlocked in Colorado, and don't eat shellfish anyway, and I can't seem to find them or a substitute in the feed stores around here. Thanks for your thoughts.
-Vanessa

 

[texaschick-a-dee]

My hens raid the cat dish anytime they're out but I have no idea if it's something they should eat. You should be able to get ground oyster shell from your local feed store. Even if they don't stock it I'm sure that they can order it.

 

[Teach97]

I feed catfood regulat...mix it with my grains...34% protein is good. I use dry but some folks give canned as a treat not my think though...really no oyster shell? I don't really know what to tell you about that! I am not far from you and can get it regular...Foy's carries it but shipping will kill you!

 

[okiehen]

I feed my chicks dry cat food from time to time. It helps after the molt. And I also use can cat food and mix in DE for a wormer.
I save my egg shells let them dry out and crush them up good.
Then feed them back to the chicks for the calcium.

 

[rdranch]

There is a feed store at 42nd & Wadaworth. They should have everything you may need.

I used game bird feed when our girls were recently molting and it seemed to get them through it a bit faster, and we have also given a handful or so of dry kitten food from time to time.

Oyster shell is fairly cheep and offered free choice should last you a long time. Fat free, unsweetened yogurt is also very good for them.

 

[cgmccary]

I feed it to mine during molting for the extra protein. Cat food has a little too much salt in it for chickens. Their bodies are not as efficient as a cat at removing the salt.

 

[gritsar]

My chickens steal food from the dogs, the cat and the goat. On occasion I'll toss them a handful of cat food, but I don't make it a regular practice.

 

[moduckman]

My chickens can hear the pull tab on a can of catfood at 100 paces. They go absolutely crazy for canned "fish" catfood.

 

[Wifezilla]

My oldest cat loves wet food, but she is picky and tends to only nibble on it when the can is first opened. I end up with a lot of leftovers because of her cranky old butt (she is 19).

I used to throw it away, but today I put the dish of snubbed cat food out to see if the ducks would eat it. Lana was nibbling on the food when I left for work.

 

[erthymom2]

i feed mine on occassion some handfulls of organic cat food from the health co-op ...it has less salt/sodium then regular brands, and around 30% protein. I corse chop it and throw it into the runs as a treat.