Feeding just corn.

[Jersey101]

So, up until I got on BYC we fed corn (whole, dry corn like this for the prevention of confusion : http://photos2.demandstudios.com/dm...0/158441697_XS.jpg?w=400&h=10000&keep_ratio=1 )

As the main base of our chickens diet, with no second thoughts. They free range the garden and neighbouring fields, get kitchen scraps and even the odd treat (fruit, lettuce, a little bread etc) but their actual feed is plain old corn from the moment they are old enough to finish with chick crumb. It's been corn for almost 20 years, and everyone around me feeds in a similar manner ... And then I got on here and your flashy American feeding regimes messed with my head (seriously, though - if I tried to explain to my 70+ yr old grandfather and his 'poultry club' friends the some of the amazing mixes of products I've heard people on here say chickens need...well, there may be unflattering comparisons involving pampered lap dogs )

Long story short... now I'm worrying if my chickens' diet is all it should be! I've heard some people say that corn should be fed as sparingly to chickens as you would feed a child sweets, and others say its a great feed in winter but bad in summer because it makes them hot and now I suddenly question everything I know about what my chickens need in their diet
So I wanted to get some thoughts. Is corn really that bad when fed to active free rangers? :s

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Corn is like carmel corn and will make chickens fat if they eat to much to often. They need something else besides just corn. Layer feed is a "must have" as it helps them lay eggs and support healthy egg and bone growth. But corn is a great grain to feed in the colder months as it is fattening and provides warmth.

 

[lightchick]

So your feeding them scratch? In the pic I saw some oats/wheat.
I'd start getting layer pellets for them. It helps them lay more eggs and stuff.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Well, I think it depends on the chickens' situation. In your situation, the chickens are getting the VAST amount of their nutrients from free ranging and foraging. Plus the kitchen scraps. They're basically eating a "natural" diet. Obviously, that works because there is enough space and forage to support them. Now, chickens like mine, who live in town and only have their run, could not survive on corn alone as they don't have the excellent forage opportunities.

Personally I don't feed any corn because I try to avoid GMOs. I feed my girls a home made mix of grains, seeds, peas, lentils, etc. plus sprouts and lots of fresh greens, fruits, and veg. As well as a little meat.

 

[brummie]

Well, I think it depends on the chickens' situation. In your situation, the chickens are getting the VAST amount of their nutrients from free ranging and foraging. Plus the kitchen scraps. They're basically eating a "natural" diet. Obviously, that works because there is enough space and forage to support them. Now, chickens like mine, who live in town and only have their run, could not survive on corn alone as they don't have the excellent forage opportunities.

Personally I don't feed any corn because I try to avoid GMOs. I feed my girls a home made mix of grains, seeds, peas, lentils, etc. plus sprouts and lots of fresh greens, fruits, and veg. As well as a little meat.

x2.

You do not need to get any layer feed if they have plenty of land to forage per chicken, as well as table scraps plus your corn. I live in the city and so have no choice but to get layer feed, but if I had the land for them to forage, i would stop buying layer feed and do what you are doing, give them table scraps, corn and let them forage for their own food. It's a more natural diet which is what I prefer over a pure "raw egg production" diet.

 

[keesmom]

So, up until I got on BYC we fed corn (whole, dry corn like this for the prevention of confusion

: http://photos2.demandstudios.com/dm...0/158441697_XS.jpg?w=400&h=10000&keep_ratio=1 )

As the main base of our chickens diet, with no second thoughts. They free range the garden and neighbouring fields, get kitchen scraps and even the odd treat (fruit, lettuce, a little bread etc) but their actual feed is plain old corn from the moment they are old enough to finish with chick crumb. It's been corn for almost 20 years, and everyone around me feeds in a similar manner ... And then I got on here and your flashy American feeding regimes messed with my head

(seriously, though - if I tried to explain to my 70+ yr old grandfather and his 'poultry club' friends the some of the amazing mixes of products I've heard people on here say chickens need...well, there may be unflattering comparisons involving pampered lap dogs

)

Long story short... now I'm worrying if my chickens' diet is all it should be! I've heard some people say that corn should be fed as sparingly to chickens as you would feed a child sweets, and others say its a great feed in winter but bad in summer because it makes them hot and now I suddenly question everything I know about what my chickens need in their diet

So I wanted to get some thoughts. Is corn really that bad when fed to active free rangers? :s

In your situation a little corn is fine. Here in the US many poultry owners are in suburban locations where free ranging isn't practical, or like me have heavy predator pressure so free ranging isn't possible. We have to rely on commercial feeds. Even if I could range I would still have to buy feed during winter. I am curious, what you feed yours during the winter?

 

[pound4pound]

feeding corn is one of the oldest and never die practices but will only supply partial vitamins to your birds' diet and is helpful to survive the freezing winter cold.

layer feed is good for dual purpose birds for it will support strenous egg laying for the hens, if free range cant provide the minerals needed.

dog food is good alternative but for treats and convalescent birds.

feeding protein will enhance their growth.


feedmix you can use:

pollard
concentrate (soaked grains is good)
nutridrench (multivitamin and mineral supplement.)
chick grower

mix together with water until of mash consistency
feed the birds.

feed it to birds.

 

[donrae]

What you're describing is how chickens have been raised for hundreds of years here in the States, too. I believe it's relatively new for backyard chicken keepers to feed a commercial feed.

Here's my thoughts.....

Go by what your birds tell you. If your flock is active, healthy and productive, you're doing the right thing. The right thing for you can be the wrong thing for someone else's situation. Your birds are getting much more than simply corn. If a bird, a laying hen, isn't getting enough nutrients, she's not going to be as productive. If a bird isn't getting enough nutrients, it's immune system is stressed and it gets ill or hosts parasites. If a bird isn't getting enough nutrients, it's not active and alert enough to avoid predators.


I will say some breeds seem to do much better with a supplement of commercial feed. Your high production bred birds sometimes just can't maintain their body's requirements without having a more balanced ration available. But again, they'd tell you. I'm sure you would have mentioned losing a bunch of good laying hens recently

You'll find a wide range of thinking here on byc. Some of us lean more toward your grandfather's line of thinking, some toward the "pet" side of things. I say, if what you're doing works, it ain't broke and don't "fix" it.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Their main diet is not corn when "They free range the garden and neighbouring fields, get kitchen scraps and even the odd treat (fruit, lettuce, a little bread etc) "
My Grandaddy might have feed his chickens pure corn but he didn't have 3 lb birds that laid a jumbo egg 350 days a year either.

 

[donrae]

Their main diet is not corn when "They free range the garden and neighbouring fields, get kitchen scraps and even the odd treat (fruit, lettuce, a little bread etc) "
My Grandaddy might have feed his chickens pure corn but he didn't have 3 lb birds that laid a jumbo egg 350 days a year either.

That's what I was trying to say, you summed it up so much better!