Feeding fish flakes to chickens

[Kneedles]

Earlier this year, my sole goldfish died, leaving me with a large half-full container of Nutrafin Max goldfish flakes.
Because I can't think of anything else to do with the flakes (I'm not getting another goldfish and I don't want to throw them out), I'd like to know whether or not it's safe to feed them to my chickens.
I know that there have been other threads asking whether or not it is okay to feed fish food to chickens, but those who said that they fed fish food to chickens were feeding their chickens different kinds of fish food (not flakes).

 

[Folly's place]

'When in doubt, throw it out!' Words to live by. How much money are you 'saving' by doing this? I guess it's obvious that I think it's not a good idea, having no idea what's actually in that jar, meant for ornamental fish. Mary

 

[Kneedles]

I think the jar cost at least $30 USD when I bought it

 

[Folly's place]

Ouch! That must be a large jar of fish flakes! I'd still be cautious. Mary

 

[pistolero]

Nutrafin MAX Goldfish flakes:

• "Ingredients: corn meal, fish protein concentrate, soybean flour, dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat flour, oatmeal, fish meal, squid meal, wheat germ meal, salmon oil (ethoxyquin used as preservative), fish liver meal, wheat bran, montmorillonite clay, wheat gluten meal, squid liver meal, dried yeast, shrimp meal, cochineal extract, krill, dried kelp, hydrolyzed soy protein, turmeric extract, cholecalciferol, biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, folic acid, inositol, niacin supplement, riboflavin-5-phosphate, calcium L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate, vitamin A acetate, thiamine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, menadione sodium bisulphite complex (source of vitamin K activity), choline chloride, DL-methionine, yeast extract, fructooligosaccharide, lecithin and vanillin
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 40.0%, Crude Fat (min) 9.0%, Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) 1.5%, Omega-6 Fatty Acids 1.5%, Crude Fibre (max) 2.0%, Moisture (max) 7.0%, Ash (max) 8.5%, Phosphorus (min) 0.5%, Phosphorus (max) 0.6%, Vitamin A (min) 7,000 IU/lb., Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min) 350 mg/lb., Vitamin E (min) 75 IU/lb."

Mostly grains with a little fish protein/ fish meal. Soybean flour is the third ingredient, I don't know if that's bad for chickens? If not, I would go ahead and mix it in with your regular feed. 40% protein can't be too bad as a small percentage of feed. Flakes are very light. So I'd think it would be hard to give them too much as long as you just add a little to their normal feed.

 

[Teila]

Hhhm, interesting question.

My gals have helped themselves to fish flakes that have blown away while I am topping up the outside container for the ponds from the container which I keep inside but I am not sure I would intentionally feed it to them.

The ingredients pistolero mentioned sound OK but I have to agree with Mary “if in doubt, throw it out”.

I can not see them getting a lot of benefit from it and giving a small amount to them is probably not much different to throwing it out. Or, do you have any friends or colleagues who keep fish that you could give it to?

 

[Kneedles]

Or, do you have any friends or colleagues who keep fish that you could give it to?

I do, actually...
I should just give it to them, I suppose

 

[lazy gardener]

Kneedles, no way would I get rid of it. You paid for it, it's a good protein source, use it. I'd sprinkle a bit on their feed several times/week. What is the protein of your current feed? If you're using layer, they'd benefit from a little bit of extra protein! Or you can buy some feeder fish in the spring, fatten them up, and then let your chickens have fish!

 

[chickens really]

It also could change the flavour of your eggs to something not that great.........

Sell it to your friend for the price of a bag of Chicken feed.....



Cheers!

 

[lazy gardener]

OP won't know unless she tries it.