Feedback on Learning Center "Treats Chart"

[zoa]

great list/ thread!

I read through all of this and it is very helpful. I noticed several times where people said to feed in moderation... sooooo, what is moderation for a chicken?!?!

Is it safe to feed them a plate of "treats" every day? I vary what I feed them, but I do give them something every day and they always eat it all up.


Also my chicks are 2 and 3 weeks old and I feed them mashed up boiled egg (a fav!) cooked grits, mealworms, and yogurt so far. They love the treats and will run and eat them right out of my hands

 

[digitS']

Quote:
I like the recommendations of Jim Hermes of Oregon State University , for both scratch and treats:

"A general rule of thumb is to feed only as much scratch as the chickens can consume in about 20 minutes, or about 10 to 15 percent of their total daily food consumption. . . treats . . . The same rule applies here: the total supplementation of scratch and table scraps should be no more than can be cleaned up in about 20 minutes."

Steve

 

[jaydweight]

So I bought a baby cake and my chicks love it! The pic doesn't show it but they've eaten about a fourth of it already. I want learn to make a flock block for when they get older.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Quote:
You can scoop up some dirt lots of places outside that has itty-bitty rocks/pebbles in it. The chickens will pick out the rocks over time as grit, & then you can just toss out the leftover dirt. Chickens seem to like digging through stuff to choose favorite bits.
Store-bought grit does give more concentrated pebbles though & can be more convenient to feed.

 

[jamband]

cool thread. Not sure if anyone agrees with this but I was told not to give them cabbage it makes the eggs smell a little funny. Just wondering if anyone experienced this before?

 

[CupOJoe42]

Can you give chickens baby food? Low sodium broth? Pistachio nuts? Ground hamburger?

 

[CatWomanSha]

I am new at chickens and I wanted to say that I have really got a lot out of your posts. I am trying to take care of them the best that I possibly can. I apprectiate your efforts and your time of helping others. Great page!

 

[Lee-in-Iowa]

While I didn't take time to read ALL 28 pages here, I read quite a few--and I keep seeing mealworms as a chicken treat. I'd say NO to that, because the ones the chickens miss (because the worms burrow into the bedding pretty quickly) will hatch into LESSER DARKLING BEETLES, which are a CHICKEN DISEASE CARRIER SUPREME. They're little black beetles about 1/4 " long, much like the larger ground beetles you see around your yard and garden--long, narrow beetles with a short head segment and a double-length body segment.

Darkling beetles have become a major pest in large hatcheries, and I know from having my lizard's aquarium infested with them once, that they're VERY HARD TO GET RID OF! (I soaked everything by submerging it in bleach-water, then baked the wooden "log" for my lizard's habitat, even tried freezing the habitat items...and the darned beetles immediately re-appeared.) I would dread getting those in a chicken coop!

Here's a link from Ohio State: http://ohioline.osu.edu/b853/b853_6.html . (Scroll down.)

The mealworm adults carry Marek's disease, which will paralyze your birds!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
I treat my birds using the freeze dried version of mealworm.

 

[zoa]

Yay Chicks! :

Quote:
I treat my birds using the freeze dried version of mealworm.

I do as well- I buy the tub of "hen treats" (they are dead- so not worried here!)​