grocery store giving me veggie scraps

[whirlwindschicks]

The local grocery store has been giving me tons of veggie and fruit scraps. Is it possible to give my chickens too many? The have feed and water available all the time and these scraps usually just 3-4 days a week. But there is alot when I get it!

 

[stubbornhill]

whirlwindschicks, Welcome and congrats on your nice score from the grocery store! It has been my experience that by feeding an abundance of scraps to "laying age" hens, you may restrict your number of eggs. Think of it this way; you purchase laying pellets that are designed with all of the proper nutrition to help hens lay. They are only able to eat so much in a day. If they are eating alot of scraps (and why wouldn't they?), the chickens will be eating less of the layer pellets or crumbles. Adding treats are a great way to keep your chickens entertained and foraging like they are designed to do. But yes, it can be overdone. Daily treats in my opinion are fine, just make sure that the treats don't make up the majority of their food intake.

I'm sure you will get other answers as well and I'm sure you will find what works best for you in your situation.

 

[whirlwindschicks]

Stubbornhill thanks so much for the advise. They seem to still be eating the same amount of pellets well atleast I still have to fill the feeder as often so I am sure they arnt eating just the scraps

 

[kuntrychick]

You are lucky they are giving them to you! My local grocery stores, if they have any, charge me a discounted price on the stuff they can't sell.

Anyway, yes, you can give them too much. They need the protein, calcium, & other nutrients that's available in their regular feed.

But, the veggies I wouldn't worry about as much as the fruits. The fruits especially should be in moderation because they can cause more runny poops.

As far as the veggies, they are beneficial to them & a great treat for them, especially like right now because of winter when there's not as much grass & plants around for them to eat. But, it still shouldn't be the sole feed ration for them.

If you have room in your refrigerator or an extra fridge like in a garage or something, you can store some of it in there. If not, you could keep them as best you can in a cool dry place, such as a basement or something...where they won't get wet from rain, frost, & snow, etc. & give a little every day, mostly veggies. Possibly only give fruits every few days or something.

If some of it does go bad, you can just throw it away...I mean, it was free, or better yet...put it on compost.

You can also change it up some...like making a sort of mash with their regular feed & let some of the fruits & veggies be some chunky surprises in the mash for them!

What I like to do a couple of times a week or so is get some of their feed, mix a little yogurt or buttermilk (great probiotics for them), a little black oil sunflower seeds, maybe some oatmeal, & stir it all together, making a mash, sometimes adding a little water or more yogurt or buttermilk til it gets the consistency I want (sort of like oatmeal). Then, I add a handful of fruits and/or veggie scraps when I have them. Sometimes I even mix in a crumbled up piece of stale bread too. Mine LOVE this! They love picking out the "surprises", but then are also getting the nutritious protein, calcium, probiotics, water, & other nutrients at the same time!

In other words, of course they are gonna prefer the treats to regular feed, but this is a way to disguise their feed, making them think it's a treat too!

ETA: Oh, & sometimes in this mash, I also add a scrambled egg or boiled egg mashed up, along with the shell, giving them even some more protein & calcium.

 

[whirlwindschicks]

. Cool what a great idea I swill have try this

 

[kuntrychick]

Quote:
Yeah, let me know how yours like it! Mine absolutely LOVE IT!!

My hubby will come in the kitchen & say whatcha cookin'? I say, making the chickens a treat. He's like, "Where's mine?" LOL He can fend for his himself & get his own food...the chickens can not.

There's been so many mornings that I've cooked the chickens oatmeal & eggs & then worried about our breakfast. The chickens come first...LOL

. Hmmm...come to think of it, maybe I better start feeding hubby first & treating him right so he won't complain when I wanna get more chickens this spring....you know how that chicken math thing is...

 

[whirlwindschicks]

I will def let u know! My dad also woks at a oatmeal slash grainer facility so my feed isnt to decided expensive either

 

[kuntrychick]

Quote:
Oh, you are so lucky! Free fruits & veggies from grocery store & free oatmeal/grains! I must be doing something wrong because I have to buy everything I feed my chickens!

Good for you!

 

[whirlwindschicks]

K I must admit that that IS why I decided to raise chickens because I had good access to everything to raise them! Including an old shed I turned into a chicken coop! Lol .......... seriously conccidering getting a pig to raise for meat! Lol stay at home mom of two little ones stuck in the country why not?

 

[stubbornhill]

Quote:
Why not is right!! What a blessing to your children to be able to show them where their food comes from, feed them naturally healthy food, show them the circle of life (veg and animal), teach them care of the land and care of animals. They will love you all the more for being a stay at home Mom and teaching them about life!