Thanks so much. I really appreciate the responses.
So I'll figure out something to keep their feed dry. They are eating some of it, as I've seen it go down a couple inches in the feeder since I filled it. Still haven't opened the new bag but will do that when this gets low, probably re-locate it too.
As to only 10% scraps, my wife insists when she was a kid they never fed their chickens any feed at all, just rice & scraps, and let them scrounge the neighborhood, and they were supposedly fine. Of course when I ask what happened to them she can't remember ever eating them or them dieing, so who knows. Anyways we'll see how they do, one of the reasons we got them was for something useful to do with the good food my kids waste. I'd say the three chickens are getting about about a full 1 quart container per day of scraps, dunno what percentage of their diet that equates to tho, but probably more than 10%.
I still wonder if "mineral grit" is the right grit for adults. Right now I mixed that with the petbird gravel&grit (which is fine sand, whereas the mineral grit is tiny pebbles and a few flakes). I can take photos of this stuff if that helps, but I wanna make sure I have the right stuff available to them if they need it. There's another feed store in my general area I haven't yet checked out, maybe they have something specifically for chickens if this isn't the best stuff...
I now understand I'm not going to feed them any more citrus, or avacado peels, but how about banana peels or strawberry leaves? That Treat Chart I was linked to said banana without peels, so I assume no. But if yes, do I need to cut up the banana peel, or just throw the whole peel in there? [So far all the scraps we've given the chickens are already cut up since it's whatever my my 23mo old kids throw on the floor, but if there's more they'll eat, happy to give it to them too.] I like what that chart said for cooked chicken "They may like it and it won’t kill them, but it just seems so….. ummm………… wrong." I had the same thought as I was bringing out some waste chicken pasta alfredo last night.
I didn't see it on the chart, but I think I read somewhere else it's actually good to feed them eggshells, especially once they start laying, is that right? [I plan to offer free choice eggshells or switch to layer feed when they start laying.]
Plus still wondering about the vegetable peel thing, as I mentioned they vegetables they get all have peels on them... that chart said cooked only, avoid green parts of peels. I dont know if that means one or the other - does it mean if they're cooked, no problems, but if they're raw avoid the green parts, or always avoid the green parts? Anyways don't recall any green peels on sweet potoatoes anyway.
Quote: As to only 10% scraps, my wife insists when she was a kid they never fed their chickens any feed at all, just rice & scraps, and let them scrounge the neighborhood, and they were supposedly fine. Of course when I ask what happened to them she can't remember ever eating them or them dieing, so who knows. Anyways we'll see how they do, one of the reasons we got them was for something useful to do with the good food my kids waste. I'd say the three chickens are getting about about a full 1 quart container per day of scraps, dunno what percentage of their diet that equates to tho, but probably more than 10%.
Most of todays chickens aren't what people had when they were kids.
If your chickens are hatchery type fowl they are bred for on of two thing in mind one (1) egg laying or two (2) producing meat.
Either way there diet is important, improper diet leads to health problems, shorter life span, poor or meat egg production etc.
Feed them properly and you'll have all around better birds.
Quote: I now understand I'm not going to feed them any more citrus, or avacado peels, but how about banana peels or strawberry leaves? That Treat Chart I was linked to said banana without peels, so I assume no. But if yes, do I need to cut up the banana peel, or just throw the whole peel in there? [So far all the scraps we've given the chickens are already cut up since it's whatever my my 23mo old kids throw on the floor, but if there's more they'll eat, happy to give it to them too.] I like what that chart said for cooked chicken "They may like it and it won’t kill them, but it just seems so….. ummm………… wrong." I had the same thought as I was bringing out some waste chicken pasta alfredo last night
.Ok, first and far most,
Take what you read on that, "treat chart" and forget it.
Second don't refer back to it again.
That, "chicken chart" is just someone's post on a forum. To me it looks like someone read some information online somewhere thought it sounded good and reposted it, never taking the time to truly research it.. There is no truth to over half of what is on that chart.
Example -
Rice can be fed to chickens cooked OR uncooked. There are a number of feeds including chicken and pigeon feed that contains raw (uncooked rice)
Grits can be fed cooked OR uncooked. Grits is ground corn, a average chicken feed contains around 60% ground corn in it and it was never cooked.
Potatoes they stated on the chart was starchy and not much nutrition. Potatoes are feed to livestock because they are relatively high in feed value.
Potatoes have proteins that are easy to digest and utilize, carbohydrates, amino acids, high amount of potassium just to name a few things.
Quote: I didn't see it on the chart, but I think I read somewhere else it's actually good to feed them eggshells, especially once they start laying, is that right? [I plan to offer free choice eggshells or switch to layer feed when they start laying.]
Egg shells are ok to feed them but you are going to still have to offer them oyster shells.
Egg shell contain the incorrect type of calcium size for good strong shells.
As for feeding the banana peels,,, I would pitch them in the compost or trash.
Your chickens might pick at them a bit but there not going to eat them.