feeding some of the whole oats

[Maxie Misty Chicks]

I have tried feeding some of the whole oats that we have for the horses to the laying hens when the weather got cold. (I added it to scratch that I threw out back door) It did seems to cause some sticky looking buts, so I discontinued. I have read that rolled or cracked oats are better digested by chicken than whole oats

 

[HEChicken]

Hmmm...I was just wondering about this today. I saw 50lb bags of whole and rolled oats at the feed store and wasn't sure if they would be able to eat the whole oats or not. Hopefully someone else will chime in with their experiences.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have fed whole and rolled oats. The rolled oats at my feed store, when you open the bag, looks just like whole oats except the hull is kind of hanging off it- like something crushed it. They haven't removed the hull. I mean, the oat itself doesn't look ROLLED like ours does.

I was so disappointed because I thought rolled oats was going to look like the oats WE eat in the grocery store- completely dehulled. So, since it costs a couple of dollars more per 50 lb than the whole oats, I am thinking I will just go back to whole.

The chickens consider it their least favorite food, or wait, maybe there's a tie between oats and flaxseed/pumpkin seeds. There is a "dose" of these three foods that, if I surpass that dose, they will simply bill them on the ground and leave them.

I do include them for variety in the diet, though.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Yes, the oats seem to be the least favorite, BUT... sprout them!
We have started sprouting them for 3-4 days and the chickens adore them and gobble them right up! It's supposed to increase the protein levels in the oats. Search for the sprouting posts and give it a try.

 

[Tala]

Mine seem to throw a lot of them on the ground, BUT they clean them up eventually, so I figure they eat DO them. They just seem to play with them a lot

Sometimes I give a second feeder of oats, sometimes just throw them out for scratch. Make sure they get plenty of grit with whole grains, coz of the hulls.

I started getting them rolled oats instead, which they seem to eat better. I just like to give them some variety, like others said. I have rolled oats, BOSS and 9% sweet feed that I give them some random mixture of every day, about a coffee can full total.

 

[mistymeadowchicks]

they'reHISchickens :

Yes, the oats seem to be the least favorite, BUT... sprout them!
.

X2!! I bought a bag of whole oats intending to sprout them, tossed out a handful straight from the bag to see what they thought. NOT impressed! '

' (not much better than their response to bean beetles last summer!) Sprouted oats are a different story--ever seen a shark feeding frenzy? '

'​

 

[princessmama]

We used to mix our own whole grain food and the oats and split peas seemed to always be "saved" for last

But we haven't been able to get some of the supplies we need lately so I've been feeding egg pellets. The other day I threw some whole oats out with the scratch and they gobbled them up in no time...

ETA: we grew oats and barley outside our back door last year from feeding the ducks out there

 

[pascopol]

Oats are very healthy grain. I feed oats to mine birds in moderate quantities.

If yours are not used to eat oats, they probably refuse to eat it.

Mine birds are used to eat anything I feed them.

And if they are fussy I make them hungry and then they will eat exactly what I want them to eat.

There is nothing worse than spoiled kids or spoiled fussy birds (animals in general).