House Hen

lac1957

Chirping
5 Years
Sep 24, 2014
10
0
65
We have one hen that likes to come in the house to visit and lay her egg. She also expects to have her canned cat food and clean up spilled seed around the parrot's cage. Is the cat food, etc harmful for her. She seems fine other than poor feathering...........

Thanks in advance...............
 
I don't think a little canned cat food as an occasional treat would do any harm. Many here suggest it when a chicken is sick and not eating well. The problem comes when the chicken is not getting balanced nutrition because she is eating cat food instead of chicken food. Cats need meat, chickens need grain. Does she have chicken feed available, and does she eat it? Suppose instead of cat food you offer her some of her own food wet to cat food consistency? You might have to make a gradual transition. If she is not molting, the poor condition of her feathers may be telling you she is not getting proper nutrition from the cat food. Good luck.
 
We have one hen that likes to come in the house to visit and lay her egg. She also expects to have her canned cat food and clean up spilled seed around the parrot's cage. Is the cat food, etc harmful for her. She seems fine other than poor feathering...........

Thanks in advance...............

DRY cat food can be used sparingly or for short periods to supplement protein, but wet cat food isn’t very high in protein. Also, salt intake can be an issue With any canned product. A small amount of wet cat Isn’t going to harm her, but by small I mean around a tablespoon. Cat food is like a treat, and treats should be around 10% or less of diet bc they aren’t usually complete or ideal nutrition. AN adult chicken eats approx 1/4-1/3 pound feed per day, if that is their sole ration. So, 10% of a 1/4 lb is pretty small.

a great treat would be wet feed. top it with a bit of canned cat food to get her to transition to wet chicken feed and she’ll do great!
 
I don't think a little canned cat food as an occasional treat would do any harm. Many here suggest it when a chicken is sick and not eating well. The problem comes when the chicken is not getting balanced nutrition because she is eating cat food instead of chicken food. Cats need meat, chickens need grain. Does she have chicken feed available, and does she eat it? Suppose instead of cat food you offer her some of her own food wet to cat food consistency? You might have to make a gradual transition. If she is not molting, the poor condition of her feathers may be telling you she is not getting proper nutrition from the cat food. Good luck.
Thanks, we will start doing that and see how she gets along..................
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From the pics, it appears she's got a lot of new feather growth. Maybe from a recent molt? Let her have the cat food. It's good for her, at this time. The increase in protein helps build stronger feathers, but most feeds only contain vegetable proteins. Animal protein, is better for them when regrowing feathers. I usually give mine a little canned cat food, or canned mackerel during this time.

I wanted to add that she should be eating chicken feed as well, not just cat food.
 
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