is dog food OK to give to chickens?

[dlhunicorn]

I have read many warnings about giving cat/dog food to birds (altho I do not believe the occasional raid into the dog or catfood dish will do any lasting harm)...not only is there too much salt and, dependent on how much and how often it is eaten, possibly unacceptable (high) levels of some vitamins (it is after all formulated for a different species) the nutrients are also not in the correct ratios ... in addition there are other problems such as pointed out by Dr. Wissman here below (a reknowned avian specialist):
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/challenges.html
"... Lafeber Company makes a critical care formula for gavage-feeding ill birds. If that is not available, you can always use a baby parrot hand-feeding formula. Do not crush up dog food to feed to ill birds. It is well-known that dog foods have allowable levels of bacteria that are not dangerous to dogs, but can be pathogenic, especially to debilitated birds. ..."
...

catfood :
www.omri.org/methionine.pdf
,,,".....While it is nutritionally essential, methionine excesses are far more toxic to poultry than similar excesses of tryptophan, lysine, and threonine (National Research Council, 1994).A dosage of 2 g / mature cat / day (20 to 30 g / kg dry diet) for 20 days induces anorexia, ataxia, cyanosis,
methemoglobinemia and Heinz body formation resulting in hemolytic anemia (Maede, 1985) ..... "

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
My MIL had a cat that LOVED cantaloupe. If you walked into the house with a cantaloupe that cat would bug the living daylights out of you until you opened it and gave her some. One of my cats loves homemade bread. She will turn her nose up at the store bought stuff but if you sit down to eat a sandwich on homemade bread you are going to give that cat some or suffer the consequences.

Cats can and do eat other foods besides meat but their protein requirements are still far above what is healthy for a dog.

DH’s grandfather lived into his late nineties drinking his homemade moonshine and smoking his hand-rolled cigarettes; but I wouldn’t hold his lifestyle up as healthy and recommend it to anyone else; I would have to chalk this one and your dog up to good genes.

And I agree with you hole heartedly about purebred dogs and their health problems. Outcrosses and mutts are usually a lot healthier.

 

[dacjohns]

I'm probably a terrible animal care giver. I buy what the feed store has. Different brands at different stores. Did get some dog food today. Diamond brand but the puppy food was not on the score sheet so I don't know if I got good stuff or not.

I also read some of the labels. Found out growing chickens should not get layer food. Layer food has a lower protein content. Scratch is about 7% protein. No wonder the broilers at my friends house aren't growing. I need to rescue them.

How threads get off track.

 

[priszilla]

Many wildlife rehab folks feed wild birds good grade dog or cat food as a substitute food for what mama would have caught and brought over- and KMR and Esbilac are used for other wild critters such as squirrels and opossums.

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
I don’t think you are a terrible pet caregiver. Most pet owners are not aware of the ingredients being used in the commercial foods that they choose to feed their pets, and the relation they have to their various aliments and medical condition.

Take a look at the ingredients in the pet foods offered for sale that we pay premium prices for, and recognize that “by-products” consist of not only indigestible items such as; feathers, hair, hooves, fecal matter, and diseased meats, (deemed inconsumable for humans and are usually what is scraped off the floors of slaughter houses).

What's more, listed, (and not) fillers are items such as hair, peanut hulls, and even newspaper. Not only are most of these foods indigestible, but also they present inadequate nutrients.

Before I started my research on canine nutrition I was completely unaware of its direct relation to canine diseases. Before hand my dogs suffered ailments from allergies to the occasional onset of unexplained diarrhea. Once I started to provide them with higher quality foods they did a complete 180° turn around, seemingly overnight, all the existing conditions they where displaying previously disappeared.

Sorry for the thread jacking…no more talk about dog food for dogs…but this is a subject that is close to my heart. If I had known 10 years ago what I know now I could have save the life of one of the best friends I ever had.

 

[balticbabe]

If I had known 10 years ago what I know now I could have save the life of one of the best friends I ever had.

I completely understand. One of my cats developed type 2 diabetes after eating a high end dry food for about 10 years. For months she had very expensive insulin and a prescription diet. Then after doing some research I found a cheaper low carb cat food and “cured” my kitty. As long as she only eats grain free canned her glucose levels are good without insulin.

Pet foods vary wildly. Some are all meat, others mostly corn or rice. I never knew until my cat got sick. So I’m a bit skeptical about any food saying it’s complete. At least “treats” are real food that I would eat. That said chickens and dogs are both omnivores so dog food should be fine as a treat.​

 

[zatsdeb]

found this on Fiascofarm.com

Another Note on Dog & Cat food: Be aware that is illegal to feed any ruminate protein back to a ruminate as part of the scrapie/BSE control program. Most dog and cat food has ruminate protein in it, and is not labeled for goats, sheep, or cattle. This ban has been in effect since 1997.

So it is against the law to feed dog and cat food to goats.
Good thing I don't do that!
I know that chickens will eat out of the same dish as the cats... at the same time!!!!