feed them CRACKED CORN!!!

[GoldenSparrow]

I went away this past week, and my friend took care of the chickens for the last 2 days.

He feed them all CRACKED CORN!! ;JDRP
even the chicks (they are at least a month old)

Is this very bad?
I was shocked!!:shocked

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

For just 2 days? They should be fine. However, I would explain to your friend that chicks should be fed chick starter for a healthy start.

 

[krcote]

Quote:
Woah! No need to freak! All is still well in your chicken land. Don't hold it against your friend either, chickens love cracked corn! It's kinda like candy, just fine in moderation

 

[sred98]

Just think of it like you went out of town, left your kids at grandma's and she let them eat junk food all weekend.

Not great, not the best choice, but they'll live!

Maybe next time, be more specific with what you want fed. Most people think chickens eat corn. That's what they eat on the cartoons, right??

Shelly

 

[sunnyvera]

Maybe next time, leave written instructions for your chicken caretakers. Non-chicken people have no concept of what healthy chickens eat. I met a lady who thought chickens were such scavengers, you could throw a dozen stale doughnuts in the run and they would be fine. It makes me crazy. She wondered why her egg production was waaaaay down - she never put it together. OH WELL.

 

[abejita]

Quote:
My neighbor watched my rabbit for a week and all she fed him was carrots....

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
My neighbor watched my rabbit for a week and all she fed him was carrots....

yikes....ha, everything in moderation...we have rabbits also....they LOVE fresh alfalfa from the field, that is if they can get it before my chickens devour it all! They even ripped apart a mesh bag to get at it yesterday!

 

[GoldenSparrow]

Thank's Everyone! you've been really helpful!

 

[GhostRider65]

I watch my neighbors chickens,ducks,turkey's,Guinna's, and turkey ducks ever year several weeks while they are on hunting trips, or at church doings for the weekends.
They feed nothing but cracked corn with a little scoop of meat bird dressed on the top, that's it plus free range. Her animals are ok though I have noticed a big difference since owning my chickens. Mine are twice the size of hers, seem hardier, and less prone to worms and sickness. She is always fighting something. She had a big out break of cocci earlier this year. Her chickens also seem quite a bit thinner than mine, but all the same she has them for over 20 years and this is there diet and they are alive.