Feeding chickens field (dent) corn on cob

[waddles99]

So, there is this field that i know of that has dent corn growing in it, about 20 acres probably. Before you say, no it is not illegal, i am not robbing some random farmers field. I have access to it and can take as much corn as i want to. It is dent corn, or field corn, whatever you call it. Every year they grow it for a tax write off but don't harvest it, they just mow down the corn-cobs and everything. It would be a shame for it to go to waste when it could be a yummy chicken treat! I was wondering, how safe it is to give to them and in what quantities should i be feeding it? It is whole corn and still on the cob.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would shell it and run it through a grinder to crack it. I'm not fond of feeding whole corn whether on the ear or shelled to chickens. But free is free.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-corn-sheller/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-Hand-...ock-Harvest-/351515167924?hash=item51d7efccb4

This is what we used to use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Bla...untry-Decor-/401004792803?hash=item5d5dbf8be3

 

[waddles99]

I would shell it and run it through a grinder to crack it. I'm not fond of feeding whole corn to chickens. But free is free.

I would totally do that, but i don't have access to a grinder. I guess i could hand crush it but that would take time. Any reason why you don't like feeding them whole corn on cob?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

On the cob, they won't get it all off and it ends up sprouting or getting moldy if not kept out of the rain.

The whole kernels seem like they'd be tougher for the gizzard to completely grind.

Here's an interesting read.
http://vomitingchicken.com/chickens-eat-corn-cob-things/

We used to have a feed store nearby that would let us grind our corn there.

 

[waddles99]

On the cob, they won't get it all off and it ends up sprouting or getting moldy if not kept out of the rain.

The whole kernels seem like they'd be tougher for the gizzard to completely grind.

Here's an interesting read.
http://vomitingchicken.com/chickens-eat-corn-cob-things/

We used to have a feed store nearby that would let us grind our corn there.

Right, that's a good point. Well, as nice as that sounds, I don't know of any place where I can get the corn ground. The articles were very helpful however for future reference. I am going to see how it goes and then if mold is an issue I will look into grinding it up.