Is cracked corn bad in the heat?

[hwjimmy21]

Is cracked corn bad to feed hens during the summer? The average temperatures during the week is 100 degrees, and I've heard that it raises the hens temperatures. Thanks in advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I use cracked corn year round, have never noticed a difference, I'm sure I'll be over rode though by others.

 

[barneveldrerman]

Cracked corn is no problem. I feed it year round and I haven't had a bird over heat. You just need to portion it. Think of it like a desert. You don't want to eat the whole pie at once. CORN IS NOT THEIR DIETARY MEAL. It's a snack/ treat.

Hope this helps and good luck on keeping your chickens cool!

 

[MeepBeep]

Corn does not raise the chickens body temp aka give them a fever, that is a myth...

 

[djronron]

I would like to use crack corn to mix with my regular feed to make the feed last longer. 60/40 split. (40 being the crack corn). Any suggestions ??

 

[barneveldrerman]

Yeah you. Can mix them together. I do but maybe you should do 80/20. Corn is not part of their dietary meal, it's a treat or part of their meal.




Hope this helped

 

[Den in Penn]

I would like to use crack corn to mix with my regular feed to make the feed last longer. 60/40 split. (40 being the crack corn). Any suggestions ??

Welcome to BYC
Most feeds already have a large corn component in them. I know you want to cut down on the cost of feeding them, but. How important is their production to you? Cutting their main feed will dilute the nutrients the need to produce. If you are letting them free range having that complete feed to fall back on when conditions aren't allowing them to find enough is a good thing.

 

[djronron]

Thanks so much for the help

 

[MeepBeep]

I would like to use crack corn to mix with my regular feed to make the feed last longer. 60/40 split. (40 being the crack corn). Any suggestions ??

Can you yes, but then your birds will not be getting a balanced diet, most importantly they will not be getting enough protein... If they free range on ripe land they will compensate but if they are contained they will be nutrient deficient and production will drop as could health...

Say you started with a 16% protein layer feed, this is pretty much the protein level laying birds should have... If you mixed 40 percent corn into that you would be at about 13% protein, plus you have also diluted the overall nutrients in the feed...