feeding chickens prepared alfalfa feed meant for horses

[jk216]

Morning BYC members,

I have a question concerning alfalfa feed i buy in for my horse called Alpha A, has anyone given this to their chickens? This product although designed for horses and i see from the plants toxic page alfalfa which alpha A comes from are poisonous for chickens, so would that also be the case for ducks? I haven't given this dried plant as of yet I thought it would be better to ask other chicken owners for their advice first. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any advice given. Julie x

 

[Chris09]

Morning BYC members,

I have a question concerning alfalfa feed i buy in for my horse called Alpha A, has anyone given this to their chickens? This product although designed for horses and i see from the plants toxic page alfalfa which alpha A comes from are poisonous for chickens, so would that also be the case for ducks? I haven't given this dried plant as of yet I thought it would be better to ask other chicken owners for their advice first. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for any advice given. Julie x

I don't know what "plants toxic" page you are referring to but, I would say that page is very incorrect.
Alfalfa is used in a lot of better poultry feeds.

This is a example or one of the feeds that I have used in the past,
Buckeye Nutrition
Big 4

Ground Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Porcine Meat Meal,
Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Lysine, DL-Methionine,
Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Phosphate, Salt, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate,
Zinc Oxide, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3
Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K
Activity), Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine
Hydrochloride, Choline Chloride, d-Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic
Acid, Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Brewers Dried Yeast.

Chris

 

[ChickChickChicky]

I keep alfalfa hay down in the parts of the run that stay dry, the chickens LOVE to scratch and eat in it. They soon pick out all the green leafy bits. I also keep alfalfa hay in the nest boxes, and am growing a small patch of alfalfa to feed fresh to the girls over summer.