help - so confused over what to feed them

[erindubb]

Oh wow- I actually think I am more confused now. hahaha.
So, what is wrong with corn? It seems like a thing that chickens are supposed to eat - if you go by kids books about farms.

So, is it bad for them? I actually just threw out a few of our leftover cobs just now and they picked them clean. Is the corn in the scratch different than the kind we eat? Should I not be giving them even the cobs from our dinner?
And all this stuff about protein and what to feed led me to a recent post about animal by products. Hum, now I have even more to be concerned about. There is only so much research a person can do. Ahhh. It can be so all consuming - to figure all this out for myself. I do have a job and a life and a family. I feel guilty by all the time I spend on the computer trying to figure out if I am for or against animal byproducts in the chickens food! AHHHH. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[erindubb]

so what about the whole animal by product thing? and why can't they have corn?

 

[bigstack]

It's not that they can't have corn but corn has no or very little nutritional value! It is used as a filler. Most animals even people would have to consume HUGE amounts of corn to get any value out of it. We raised Hogs a while back. My dad would feed the hogs Dry corn for 3 days prior to the sale. The corn would swell up in their bellies and make them look bigger. Kinda cheating but our hogs were always very healthy and fat anyway. But they look alot fuller! The corn just filles up their belly and offers very little value! I give 2 cups of scratch on the coop floor (over litter) every other day. This is alot I think. But my girls help keep the litter turned and it keeps them busy! I also feed layer pellets and almost all of the house scraps. They love spaghetti and pinto beans!!! I fed 18% protein from 10 weeks to 24 weeks. Then when I got the first egg I switched to layer pellets. I started mixing the pellets into the feed as the other feed ran out. This worked for me.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[erindubb]

Thank you so so much. That really helps explain it. So, my next question is --- people keep saying that putting the scratch on the floor with the shavings helps turn it over because the chickens try and find the food - but doesn't the food then come into contact with the poop and stuff making it gross and unsanitary? What happens if I put the scratch out in the run with sand? Do they turn it over? How do they find the scratch in the sand?

 

[bigstack]

They will find it any where you put it! LOL Yes it does come into contact with the droppings. Kinda nasty but they actually get stronger. If healthy to start with, it will help to improve their imune system! I have heard of people actually mixing a tiny amount of their flock poo into the feed for the new additions, before they are added to the flock. (while in quarintine) I personally don't do this. I think it is a lil over kill! But hey .... what ever works for you.... Go for it! Chickens will eat poo weather you put food on it or not. Its just a fact of life! Most animals will eat poo! If they smell or sence a vitamin/nutrient/mineral, that they need they will eat it. If the coop is ventilated properly the poo should dry fairly quickly. This is a method that has been done for longer than not.

God bless!

WHOOO HOOO!!!!!! I got my 1000 post!!!! I am Obsessed!!!! LOL hahaha

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

Here's an explanation of what to feed young birds, at what ages (the birds described in this were some that we received by surprise):

There are lots of choices for feeding chickens; commercial feed, free range plus commercial feed, home-mixed rations, and everything in between. These girls were receiving commercially-prepared, medicated feed, so we chose to continue with that. Commercially prepared feeds for chicks up to 8 weeks old are generally referred to as “starter” rations and I recommend them as a good way to get chicks off to a healthy start. The companies producing these feeds spend millions making sure they contain the proper nutrients, and it’s important that the chicks consume a balanced ration as they grow incredibly fast.

Starter rations come either medicated or non-medicated, with the medication being antibiotic to prevent coccidiosis. Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that interferes with nutrient absorption, and is not usually a problem during cooler months (coccidia flourish in warm, humid conditions), or for smaller flocks raised in sanitary conditions. Since these chicks were already being fed medicated rations and temperatures are warm now, we chose to continue although we started mixing un-medicated feed in gradually.

After 6-8 weeks, the chicks can be switched to “developer” in areas of the country where developer rations can be found. These feeds generally aren’t medicated and contain lower protein levels than the starter rations (once chickens have made their feathers their protein needs go down slightly). In many areas, the developer rations are hard to find, and there is only a “starter/grower” type ration. Whatever is available, probably the important thing is to switch the chicks off medicated feeds so they develop strong immune systems.

If the chicks are eating only commercial feed, then grit isn’t necessary, but if they’re also free ranging or getting table scraps, then free choice grit should be provided. It’s the only “teeth” chickens have. Oyster shell isn’t necessary until they’re older and ready for laying, and “layer” rations should never be fed to young chickens because the higher calcium levels (for strong egg shells) can seriously damage the kidney of young birds. For these chicks, we move the Eglu every day to give them access to fresh grass and clover so they need grit.

Hope it helps explain too.

 

[woodmort]

Scratch is to chickens what Bonz,Pounce, and other treats are to dogs and cats--something to bribe them with or give them for a treat--it isn't supposed to be a main diet. Too much corn isn't good because it tends to build up fat--many poultry producers use it as a cheap way to add weight to meat birds (it makes that yellow stuff you find in butchered birds). You don't really want to fatten up your chicken--unless they're meaties--so don't over due. Given the choice most chickens will gorge themselves on corn and scratch grain rather than the balance diet a mixed food would give them. I usually feed it more in the winter when it is cold because I feel the chickens need a bit more "fuel" during this time to keep warm but it is useful year 'round to get chickens to go where you want them to go.

Grit is what it says, hard, indigestible particles that the chickens stow in their gizzards to grind their food. Without it many kinds of foods like seeds, vegetation and insects/worms, wouldn't be of any food value to them. Since starter or grower foods do not fall into these categories, the chickens don't need it as long as they kept on that diet. Once you give it to them--either stuff you add or what they pick up in the run--allow them free choice so they don't think this is their diet.

All of a sudden there seems to be a big thing about protein and protein sources in chicken food. I've fed Purina, Dumor, Nutrana and locally produced, Milky Way--it'll all work and the chickens will grow and lay on it. The important thing is to feed the kinds of formulated food made for chickens at a certain age and condition: starter for < 8 weeks, grower or flock raiser for older birds, finisher for meaties and layer for hens once they lay. Medicated starter is meant to protect chicks until they reach enough maturity for their immune systems to be such that they can fend off illness. (I prefer to either have the chicks vaccinated at the hatchery or hatched here so never use it, but that's my preference.) You certainly want to phase it out before killing or major egg laying.

Keep in mind too that just like other pet people there are chicken people that prefer, for one reason or other, to grow, mix and/or buy organic feeds of their own choosing. My elder daughter refuses to feed any kind of commercial pet food to either her dog or cats but makes her own. That's her choice, we use a variety of commercial dry and canned food and her animals aren't any healthier or longer lived than ours. We even spend less and have less work. Just don't let these people confuse you if you're not interested in going down that path.