I prefer the natural remedies.

[cluckcluckluke]

Chickens are omnivores and do eat/need the protein in meat. In the summer, it is plentiful in the form of bugs, larvae, frogs. In the winter, when they're out foraging there are fewer bugs for them to find. My DH cleared a spot around his wood pile over the weekend and the chickies were scratching around, one found a worm and then there was a serious game of keep away until one was finally able to eat the prize. So I am feeding my chickies the leftover scraps of meat/fish from family dinners as well as mealworms, scrambled/hardboiled eggs from time to time. They love it all - hamburg, pork, turkey, salmon, etc. The one thing I won't give them is the country ham, too salty.

This is great to hear ( I have heard so many stories about feeding meats to chickens ). It's summer where I am so plenty of "grub" for them here, I have a live stash of meal worms building up for the winter months so they should be set.

 

[Sandstorm495]

Does anyone here feed their chickens meat either as part of their diet or just as one offs in the chicken scrapes because I'm not sure whether to put the odd (like once a week) cooked piece of fish or beef in the chook bin or whether it is a bad idea?

Definetely.. they need the protein and the goodness from the meat. For our chooks it's part of their diet. No chicken of course though...

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Definetely.. they need the protein and the goodness from the meat. For our chooks it's part of their diet. No chicken of course though...

It's good to know I'm doing it right, so don't give it to chicks?

 

[Sandstorm495]

It's good to know I'm doing it right, so don't give it to chicks?

No, as long as it's in small broken up bits, it's fine for chicks.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Oh I get you, you meant don't give them chicken not don't give the chicks meat, sorry I misunderstood.

 

[Sandstorm495]

Oh I get you, you meant don't give them chicken not don't give the chicks meat, sorry I misunderstood.

No, that's OK...I misunderstood you too! So..you do feed them meat? If you don't you really need to start putting it in their diet! But then mealworms is an excellent source of protein too.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

No, that's OK...I misunderstood you too! So..you do feed them meat? If you don't you really need to start putting it in their diet! But then mealworms is an excellent source of protein too.

I'm in Aussie so we have plenty of bugs here as it's summer here. The hens get random bits of meat in the dinner left overs and in the scrapes.

 

[Sandstorm495]

Then we have something in common! Im an Aussie too!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Then we have something in common! Im an Aussie too!

Oh wonderful, are you on any of the Aussie threads?

 

[Sandstorm495]

Oh wonderful, are you on any of the Aussie threads?

On BYC? I don't really know what youre talking about! Haven't seen any I dont think..