Hens, wild birds, and food quality

Why are you using it for cat litter?
Because it's cheaper than decent name brand cat litter for how many cats we have and boxes I fill. It lasts way longer, it is less dusty than most clay litter, and it has no fragrance that sets off my severe allergies. It clumps as tight or tighter than many clay litters I've used, making the boxes cleaner and fresher. And when I dump the entire box to clean it, I can rake it into the leaves in the woods on our property and it doesn't end up in a gross pile for months on end like clay. We also had a cat with a skin allergy to the dust in clay litter and her belly broke out something fierce. Again, that totally resolved when we ditched the clay. For us, it's proven to be the best option. I read about it on a cat rescue's website years ago, others I'd never have even thought about it.
 
Because it's cheaper than decent name brand cat litter for how many cats we have and boxes I fill. It lasts way longer, it is less dusty than most clay litter, and it has no fragrance that sets off my severe allergies. It clumps as tight or tighter than many clay litters I've used, making the boxes cleaner and fresher. And when I dump the entire box to clean it, I can rake it into the leaves in the woods on our property and it doesn't end up in a gross pile for months on end like clay. We also had a cat with a skin allergy to the dust in clay litter and her belly broke out something fierce. Again, that totally resolved when we ditched the clay. For us, it's proven to be the best option. I read about it on a cat rescue's website years ago, others I'd never have even thought about it.
That's good to know, I never would have though of that.
 
That's good to know, I never would have though of that.
Me neither. The cat rescue was based in NY, and I really wish I could remember the name so I could share the site, but it was so long ago. I was honestly doubtful, but I figured I'd give it a shot. I was pleasantly proven wrong.
 
Bird seed is a high value treat, I would either move the feeder where they aren't hanging out or remove it entirely. I would consider the latter option especially if you are worried about bird flu as even if they can't access the feeder, the feeder will still encourage the wild birds to hang around more than they otherwise would. Dumor layer feed is basically fine? Protein is lower than I like to see but it meets their basic requirements. You can try pellets if you don't like crumbles, I found crumbles to be too messy so I will now only feed crumbles to very young chicks, everyone else gets pellets. Do know that birds allowed to free range do eat less feed but if they aren't eating it at all first check that's it's not old or moldy (check the mill date on the feed bag). If the food is fresh and free of mold, then they are likely holding out for the bird seed. Remove access to it and just leave them with the feed and they'll eat it eventually
I was wondering about the pellets... They recommended the crumble when I got the chicks, so I just stuck with that... but pellets sound like a good solution when this is the second bag in 4 months that just has SO much dust in it.
I think I would rather fence off that area of my property entirely than give up my wild birds lol They make me and my daughter happy, they're so cute... we haven't had a case of avian flu in NY (reported) since last March, I just wanted to be extra cautious- we love our chickens, too! (We have a guinea hen in the mix, too, and my daughter loves that bird more than the cat (and maybe the dog) lmao) And we definitely don't want to lose them to bird flu. I just couldn't believe how persistent they were. But this whole comparison to junk food/treats makes sense now... thank you!
 
I was wondering about the pellets... They recommended the crumble when I got the chicks, so I just stuck with that... but pellets sound like a good solution when this is the second bag in 4 months that just has SO much dust in it.
I think I would rather fence off that area of my property entirely than give up my wild birds lol They make me and my daughter happy, they're so cute... we haven't had a case of avian flu in NY (reported) since last March, I just wanted to be extra cautious- we love our chickens, too! (We have a guinea hen in the mix, too, and my daughter loves that bird more than the cat (and maybe the dog) lmao) And we definitely don't want to lose them to bird flu. I just couldn't believe how persistent they were. But this whole comparison to junk food/treats makes sense now... thank you!
Sounds like a good plan. The reason they recommended crumbles is very young chicks do need crumbles, older birds can deal with either. When transitioning the birds to pellets, mix in some pellets with their crumbles, that way someone is likely to get curious, try it and see that it's food
 
Because it's cheaper than decent name brand cat litter for how many cats we have and boxes I fill. It lasts way longer, it is less dusty than most clay litter, and it has no fragrance that sets off my severe allergies. It clumps as tight or tighter than many clay litters I've used, making the boxes cleaner and fresher. And when I dump the entire box to clean it, I can rake it into the leaves in the woods on our property and it doesn't end up in a gross pile for months on end like clay. We also had a cat with a skin allergy to the dust in clay litter and her belly broke out something fierce. Again, that totally resolved when we ditched the clay. For us, it's proven to be the best option. I read about it on a cat rescue's website years ago, others I'd never have even thought about it.
OK, I just want to make sure that I'm understanding this:

The Dumor product that you've been using for cat litter: is it sold as Dumor cat litter, or sold as Dumor chicken feed? I think that most of us are reading this as Dumor chicken feed being used as cat litter, which is confusing.

Anyway, 16% protein is pretty low-ish. I think that your birds are telling you that they need a higher nutrition diet. This is especially true if you're in the Northern Hemisphere (heading into fall, not spring) and your birds will possibly be molting. Growing new feathers requires a LOT of protein.

Look for 18% or more if you can find it. You don't have to buy "layer feed", meant for laying pullets and hens, with the higher calcium levels for shell creation. You can instead buy an all-flock or similar (even chick feed) with the usual 1.5-2.5% calcium levels and just provide calcium on the side - crushed oyster shells plus their own egg shells. Laying chickens are good about eating the proper amount of calcium supplements.
 
OK, I just want to make sure that I'm understanding this:

The Dumor product that you've been using for cat litter: is it sold as Dumor cat litter, or sold as Dumor chicken feed? I think that most of us are reading this as Dumor chicken feed being used as cat litter, which is confusing.

Anyway, 16% protein is pretty low-ish. I think that your birds are telling you that they need a higher nutrition diet. This is especially true if you're in the Northern Hemisphere (heading into fall, not spring) and your birds will possibly be molting. Growing new feathers requires a LOT of protein.

Look for 18% or more if you can find it. You don't have to buy "layer feed", meant for laying pullets and hens, with the higher calcium levels for shell creation. You can instead buy an all-flock or similar (even chick feed) with the usual 1.5-2.5% calcium levels and just provide calcium on the side - crushed oyster shells plus their own egg shells. Laying chickens are good about eating the proper amount of calcium supplements.
I'm sorry for the confusion. It's sold as chicken feed, I just decided to use it for cat litter after reading about it on a rescue website.
 
I'm surprised it doesn't mold.
I think it definitely might, if it wasn't cleaned often enough. I clean our all of boxes twice a day, and I've never had it mold. But I can definitely see where it could if it weren't tended to often enough.
 
I find it odd that you want to deny your own chickens the good quality food you're apparently happy to buy for wild birds. Why?



Why don't you trust your eyes and the evidence your chickens provide for you?

Yep. It seems that, actually, you instinctively know the answers to your questions.

So historically people in besieged cities ate rats and grass and leather etc. You can make them eat any rubbish if you deny them any other food. But most of us want to give our birds the best, not the average minimally adequate for about 18 months of egg laying.
I'm not going to feed black oil sunflower seed to my chickens because it's *not chicken food*. I don't feed the dog cat food, and I don't let the rabbit eat the dog food (and he tries). Also, I'm trying to keep them away from the bird feeders so they don't get avian flu. That was the initial point...
As far as trusting what I'm seeing in my chickens behavior? I'm seeing they're pretty persistent beggars. Worse than the dog, who is def not starving. And I would hope that food specifically formulated for chickens is not rubbish! They ARE eating it, they just go nuts for the birdseed- now that other people have described that as junk food, it makes more sense. They would also love to eat everything in my vegetable garden... and my roses, apparently, too... I'm not going to let them just run rampant and eat *everything*.
 

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