Food Scraps?

[DuckRaiser]

They're agreeing with you

... Is something wrong with that?

 

[NYREDS]

I figure if I can eat it, they can eat it. I try to use some common sense on the things that I've heard are "bad" for them. I don't give them whole onions but will give them left over casserole that has onions in it. Yes, they occasionally get something salty but not all the time. I give them potato leftovers. I don't give them any green skin from a potato as it's not something I eat - it isn't good for either of us. And tomorrow they're going to be getting some stale red velvet cake. The key is that they don't get a lot of any of these things at any one time. They only get leftovers as they occur, which isn't a lot around here as I have a young adult male in the household who would probably eat his own hair if he got hungry enough. 

They love eggs in any fashion so I'll treat them to eggs if I've got too many on hand. My vet said not to give them chicken [a species thing, he says] but they've gotten it in leftover soups and casserole. I just don't give it to them often or much at any one time. 

About the only thing I make sure they don't get is coffee grounds or chocolate. If the girls had their way, they'd eat nothing but leftover shredded spring mix salad, rice, chili [leaving the beans behind], and scrambled eggs! 

Thanks for your sanity. Let me point out though that Red Velvet Cake is chocolate. Miine got into the compost w/coffee grounds once-made them very jittery.

 

[Odelia]

Most of our produces scraps go into a compost along with yard waste. We will sprinkle some of the compost in the run every few days so they get to pick for goodies. However our young flock doesn't seem too interested in scraps or treats we try to give them. Except worms! But even those it was like they had to practice eating them. They mostly want their feed...especially the dried corn feed. But we have a new flock that is young and was raised on feed...will they slowly start to be more adventurous with what they eat??

Yes, absolutely they will like treats more as they get older. My flock wasn't interested in treats when they were young teenager chickens. When they came into maturity they became very interested in treats. Now it is an all out race to get to the treats first when I put them out for them.

 

[DuckRaiser]

Thanks for your sanity. Let me point out though that Red Velvet Cake is chocolate. Miine got into the compost w/coffee grounds once-made them very jittery.

LOL! My birds are jittery enough!XD

 

[Odelia]

I have had chickens for years it is interesting that they will eat coins. stones, marbles, buttons and anything else they find. Yet people still question if food scraps will hurt them. LOL

They will even peck the earring from your ear and eat it. True story. P.S. the chicken is fine.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Thanks for your sanity. Let me point out though that Red Velvet Cake is chocolate. Miine got into the compost w/coffee grounds once-made them very jittery.

REAL - from scratch - Red Velvet has about 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder in it. Some have even less. This was from a mix and the cocoa is waaaay down on the list of ingredients. Probably just enough cocoa for them to be able to legally call it Red Velvet. We only have a slice left so - between the eight girls - they won't get much.

I'm probably the only person on the planet who thinks Red Velvet is highly overrated. Heck, if I'm to bake a chocolate cake, I want ALL CHOCOLATE! And, trust me, then there wouldn't be any left for the chickens! LOL!

 

[chad-o]

They will even peck the earring from your ear and eat it. True story. P.S. the chicken is fine.

Funny how things always work out in the end!! LOL

 

[HS Pye]

???

Ditto means I agree with you o.o

 

[DuckRaiser]

Ditto means I agree with you o.o

Ah! Okay! Sorry, I didn't know that!XD

 

[gallinanana]

My chickens turn their beaks up at potato peels...maybe if I cooked them? They love purslane which is a weed with wonderful nutritional properties (known to Mexican cooks as "verdelagas"). They are the richest plant source of Omega3 fatty acids. Any scraps that are high in protein are especially useful during moulting...helps them produce feathers faster.