Feeding Bantam Cochins Whole Corn

[Mucky]

My bantam cochins are about a year and a half old. I feed them a layer feed with an occasional leftover from the kitchen. My neighbors had some whole corn that they gave me and I am wanting to give it to the chickens. I'm nervous about giving it to them because I am afraid the kernels are too large. The chickens are fairly small. I also have never gave them any grit. Their run is covered in several inches of fill sand so I never bothered to give them any actual granite grit. I am hoping to hear some advice from someone before I give it to them. I have never even given them cracked corn, maybe they won't even like it.

 

[chicmom]

Hello! They should be just fine without grit, since you have sand in your run. I don't know about feeding bantams whole corn....It seems so large. I just bought some cracked corn from the local mill, and I was kind of disappointed because I didn't think it was cracked enough....The pieces are kind of large. I still give it to them, and they seem to like it, but I don't give them too much. I won't buy the mill brand next time.....

 

[mississippifarmboy]

All our chickens, bantams included, get whole corn if we have any left that dried on the stalk from the garden. They also have grit free choice, but they have never had a problem with it.

 

[Tracydr]

I have tiny OEGB and I bet they would eat it, once they got used to it. It's amazing what chickens can put in their mouths! They swallow whole cockroaches!

If a little bitty banty can swallow an AZ cockroach I'm sure they can eat some whole corn. Mine eat whole wheat. Try sprouting it so that it's easier to digest and more nutritious. Soak it for a day and then put it in a burlap sack, rinsing it each day until sprouted. That's what I like to do with whole grains for them.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I'm nervous about giving it to them because I am afraid the kernels are too large.
The chickens are fairly small

Pigeons and Doves eat whole corn with no problems​

 

[member 447614]

I feed my Cochin Bantams whole corn in their diet. Not one problem. Think of it this way. If a Cochin Bantam can catch and eat a 2 inch X 1/2 inch locust whole, then a 1 centimeter kernel of corn will not be a problem. Not only that, my Cochin Bantam rooster ate a small field mouse whole it caught while foraging in the yard. So yes, Cochin Bantams can eat whole corn.