how much is too much?

[okiechicken]

I visited a farmers market the other day about bad produce and he loaded me up w/ 6 cantelopes, about 12 peaches and 8 or so tomatos that were all bad for human consumption.

I took it to the hens the next morning and put all of it in the run. If I would have kept any for any amount of time, it would have gone really bad.

I only have 9 birds so was this too much? It took them about 2 days to polish off the largest majority of the stuff. Also, can they get sick from eating too much fruit? I also have scratch available and a free range feeder.

 

[SilkiesAndSuch]

Are they bantams or standard? I think, even if they are large birds, that that was too large of a snack, but as long as you don't do it too often it won't hurt them. I give mine small snacks usually every day, like a few scrambled eggs or some yogurt, strawberries, etc but what I give them is just that. A snack. Anything too drastic can throw them off or upset their little tummies. But like I said, I don't think there was any major harm done or anything. Just make their snack portions smaller

 

[Sissy]

I have raised my flock on
Purina pellets and rarely gives snacks but when I do thats just what it
is
a snack 1/2 watermelon for about 30 oldersters and the younger ones get
yogurt.

 

[Mahonri]

They probably will have some watery, runny poop for the next day or so.. Make sure they have lots of clean water and lots of layer feed.

 

[okiechicken]

they are all full sized birds.

that was about all they had most of the week except for their regular feed and there are 2 water stations available.

I usually dont give that much but it would have gone bad even worse and I hated to waste it. Next time, ill pitch some.

 

[laughaha]

next time just portion it out and toss some in the freezer. They go NUTS for frozen fruit in the summer!!!