Home made feed and things to think about feeding your chickens.

[uc4tuna]

I wouldn't recommend feeding your chickens chocolate. In dogs it can cause death because it contains theobromine, a methylxanthine that can cause hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and heart attacks. They're not sure that it can cause this in birds, but there have been multiple reports of parrots and even one report of a large number of gulls dying after eating chocolate. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

 

[Mykee]

No, chocolate isn't very healthy for any animal. Besides, it's so expensive, I want it all for myself!

 

[folgerrd]

feed recipe I use.

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2 parts whole corn, ground (or purchased organic corn meal)[/FONT]
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3 or 4 parts whole wheat[/FONT]
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1 part barley[/FONT]
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1 part oat groats[/FONT]
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1 part shelled sunflower seeds[/FONT]
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1/2 part lentils[/FONT]
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1/2 part split green peas[/FONT]
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1 part millet[/FONT]
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1/4 part flax seeds[/FONT]
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1/2 part seaweed[/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]That is chick starter here is chicken feed:[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif] parts whole corn (in winter this is increased to 3 or 4 parts)[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3 parts soft white wheat[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3 parts hard red winter wheat[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part hulled barley[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part oat groats[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part sunflower seeds (in winter this is increased to 2 parts)[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part millet[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part kamut[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part amaranth seeds[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part split peas[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part lentils[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part quinoa[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1 part sesame seeds[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1/2 part flax seeds[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1/2 part kelp granules[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]free choice of granite grit[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]free choice of oyster shell[/FONT]​

 

[Mykee]

This is certainly an interesting recipe. The ingredients make sense, I've just never seen kelp in chicken feed! Where did you get it?

 

[folgerrd]

http://www.greenerpasturesfarm.com/ We sometimes modify it slightly depending on what our pantry is filled with, but never too much.

 

[kush3120]

I have issues with my chickens eating anything but their feed or scratch. I will pick things from the garden or scraps from the kitchen and throw it in the coop. They will pick at the items for a second then leave it alone.

 

[folgerrd]

You have issues with doing it morally? or they don't like it? Sorry I was a little confused by your post

 

[kush3120]

They just don't seem to like it. If they go into the garden they go crazy and eat everything, but if I pick stuff from the garden and put it in the run they will not eat it

 

[folgerrd]

My chicks are picky about treats as well. They prefer meal worms and bread(which is a rare, rare treat) to anything else and won't touch melon or banana.