Don't feed fruit to layers????

[digitS']

Chickens are a lot like us: they tend to eat to gain all the calories they require . . . and then eat a little bit more.

One problem is that most calorie-rich foods like fruit are low in protein. Even dried fruit is only 2.5% protein.

Dry eggs, on the other hand, are 47% protein. USDA National Nutrient Database

Maybe there's something more to the fruit issue but their low protein is enough to warrant some caution in feeding.

Steve

 

[azygous]

My layers love fruit. They love sliced oranges, too. During late summer, they get tomatoes from the garden until it's coming out their ears. During winter, they gorge on fresh squash and carrots I store in cool places in the garage especially for them. There isn't a single day that they don't get a ration of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Of course it goes without saying their primary feed is their layer pellets liberally laced with black sun flower seeds to make sure they have plenty of protein.

They are all very good layers.

Those of you who deprive your chickens of an occasional treat of sliced oranges (they won't eat the peels, but then neither would you), should Google this issue. You'll discover there is absolutely no reason for not feeding citrus to chickens. It's a hyperbolic, silly, old wive's tale for the gullible and intellectually lazy.

 

[dntd]

uh ho I gave my girls an apple today! My rooster's laying has been really low since he started eating fruit,on top of that the bluebarries produced purple poo that stained everything!

 

[azygous]

Quote:
Talk about purple poo - have you noticed the metallic purple color of chicken poo after they've been eating purple cabbage! It practically glows in the dark! LOL!

 

[nanawendy]

I just don't give my girls fruit snacks in the morning. I want them to get their fill of layer feed.
Snacks go out in the afternoon.

 

[Layira]

Quote:

What is going on here?! And where can I get one?

 

[Beekissed]

My chickens free range in my orchard......eat tons of apples and eggs keep poppin' out. Go figure!

 

[kristenm1975]

Hmm, I was wondering about this. I only have three hens and I really like feeding all kitchen scraps to them, so that it saves the landfills (I don't have my compost set up yet) but I don't want to throw them off nutritionally. I put out a big pile (about 2.5 cups) this morning of a mixture of apple, a small portion of hot dog, and some snap peas, and I'm guessing that's too much for just 3 girls. They are eating their layer pellets nicely, so far anyway, so I guess I'll just watch and see. They're in a tractor on a nice green lawn, so I think they're getting a pretty good sampling of grass and bugs too.

 

[Ryu]

For the layers I haven't noticed that it effects egg production that much, but for the heavier breeds (like Cornish) you've got to stick to the higher protein treats or they just stop laying--at least mine do.

 

[littlethorn]

Maybe they mean not to feed them fruit as their sole source of nutrition? Mine love blueberries, apples, pretty much anything sweet and I have never noticed a drop in egg production.