Expanding Chicken Feed.

[4 Georgia Hens]

I could see giving a hand full of oats as a treat, but not as up to 1/3rd of the diet... and, again, I can't see how a box of oats (12 ounces) could be more cost effective than a 50# bag of feed.... unless you are getting it in bulk or free.

I get mine is bulk. Also, in the recipe I meant to say 1\2 part oats. I'm fixing it now.

 

[Titan Farm]

First off unless your feed is a 12% protein your not adding extra protein your depleting it.
Rolled is only about 12% proteins.

Second, how do you know they like it?
Are they rushing to the feeder and eating the feed down like there starved?
If so that would be because there feed is imbalanced and there not getting the correct nutrition. You see chickens eat to fill a caloric need when that need is met they tend to stop eating, weather or not there full, taken in the correct amount of food or correct amount of nutrition. By adding a somewhat low protein starch to there feed your not only depleting protein but also increasing there caloric intake (starch=calories) and the birds eat less and take in less nutrients.

In short the chickens act like they like the food because there hungry.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

First off unless your feed is a 12% protein your not adding extra protein your depleting it.
Rolled is only about 12% proteins.

Second, how do you know they like it?
Are they rushing to the feeder and eating the feed down like there starved?
If so that would be because there feed is imbalanced and there not getting the correct nutrition. You see chickens eat to fill a caloric need when that need is met they tend to stop eating, weather or not there full, taken in the correct amount of food or correct amount of nutrition. By adding a somewhat low protein starch to there feed your not only depleting protein but also increasing there caloric intake (starch=calories) and the birds eat less and take in less nutrients.

In short the chickens act like they like the food because there hungry.

No, their not rushing to eat it, but they do eat it in the morning, afternoon, and nighttime. By the end of the day, all of it is gone.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Well, their not rushing to eat it as if they are starving.

 

[Titan Farm]

No, their not rushing to eat it, but they do eat it in the morning, afternoon, and nighttime. By the end of the day, all of it is gone.

Of coarse there eating it and by the end of day it all gone, there trying to fill that nutritional need.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Of coarse there eating it and by the end of day it all gone, there trying to fill that nutritional need.

I'm not so convinced. Anyway, I'm going to bed.

 

[Titan Farm]

Might want to look into basic nutrition of poultry before experimenting with there feed.
It might save you and your birds a ton of problems.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

I'm not so convinced. Anyway, I'm going to bed.

By weight, raw oats are 66% carbs, 17% protein, 7% fat and 11% fiber. By using that much oats, you are throwing off the nutritional balance of your feed, hence are underfeeding your birds protein, while possibly under or overfeeding them carbs, fat, fiber, and other vitamins and minerals.

You might not see it NOW, but long term use of imbalanced feed can and will cause issues with your birds. Please reconsider using oats to stretch out your feed.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

HERE is a recent thread on making your own feed. Please read through it.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

I'm going to finish the bucket of this feed off, then I might reconsider this whole idea. I refuse to waste this pre-made food. Thank you all for your advice!