Chickens and Table Scraps

[slfiggins]

Can anyone tell me what kind of table scraps I can give my hens? I have 9 laying hens about 13 weeks old. They are not free ranged, but they do have a pen that is 8x10 feet long that they can come out and graze in. Any suggestions on how often and how much I should give them?

Thanks!
Sara
http://www.learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I hope this BYC page can help. It's the "official" treats chart.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[ChksontheRun]

I think the majority of their food intake should be grower Pellets at that age. (many books say no more than 10% treats) That being said, part of the benefit of chickens is that they can help turn your left overs into eggs so many people give them a dinner of leftovers every day. I think you will find as many opinions on the subject as there are people on this site (well maybe almost that many)

So here is what I do. I keep grower pellets in their feeder all of the time, and once a day in the evening, give them left-overs. They do still get quite a bit of grower food so I know their nutritional needs are being met, but they still put my leftovers to good use.

Enjoy your babies.

 

[slfiggins]

Thanks for the help and the link. I will definitely check it out!

Sara
http://www.learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/

 

[NYREDS]

If you can eat it they can eat it.

 

[Dora'smom]

Actually there are things that we can eat that they shouldn't. . . such as avocados. Most things are okay in moderation, though.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
What Red says. So long as it isn't rotten or moldy pretty much anything you can eat they can. They may not want it if you offer it to them, but they can eat it.

 

[flgardengirl]

This morning mine got left over angel food cake mixed in with last night's cheeseburger casserole and mexican rice from the night before lol. They loved it.

 

[LeezyBeezy]

I gave mine leftover Chinese the other say- chicken, rice, broccoli. They loved it. I wonder if they were hungry later?? j/k