is dog food OK to give to chickens?

[talos321]

Quote:
One of the local feed stores sells a type that says it can feed: Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Gamebirds, Horses, Pigs, Goats and Rabbits. It is pellet form.

For the orignal question:
I give mine a little cat food here and there. I mix around what I feed them day to
day anyway. Dog Food should be fine. If someone can throw this feed to pond
fish (and some do) and won't kill them anything else that can eat it should be fine

 

[Davaroo]

One of the local feed stores sells a type that says it can feed: Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Gamebirds, Horses, Pigs, Goats and Rabbits. It is pellet form.
Proably CalfManna - a great supplemental feed.
And you should read the label on floating fish food. Thats next for my chickens!

 

[Eggseronious]

I would not buy feed from a store or feed company that list a feed that can be fed to Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Gamebirds, Horses, Pigs, Goats and Rabbits it can not be balanced for all types of these. It may be great for one and garbage for another.

 

[Davaroo]

I hear what you're saying eggseronious. And in the main you have a point - all animals have certain nutrional needs that must be met. But chickens are a bit more eclectic, food wise, than you may give them credit for. They need grains/seeds, "green feed" and meat - how they get these things can vary. If you are feeding your chickens from the kitchen or dining table then you already give your chickens "multi-use" food.

There is a "one-size fits all" feed that has been given to critters for along time. While it doesn't meet all needs for all critters, it makes a dandy supplement, especially when extra protein or palatability is important.
Im speaking of CalfManna.

I've given it to chickens for a long time with no ill effects. It doesnt replace their normal feed, but rather augments it. Truth is, with a little modificaton to feeding it could fill in as a near complete feed. It is one "treat" I dont mind giving them. I've even tried it myself and it aint half bad.

My usual feeding regimen consists of:

1. Ration feed
2. CalfManna
3. BOSS
4. Scratch

That's it, nothing fancy. No chicken has yet complained.

 

[happyhen]

Wiping tears of laughter from my eyes......

Thank you all for keepin' it real, especially elderoo!

So much money is made by specially formulating feeds for breeds, that I think we may have sacrificed common sense and ultimate nutritional animal health. We need to remember how animals ate before Purina, Iams etc...

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
There is a considerable difference between commercial cat and dog foods as cats have very different nutritional requirements than dogs.

Dogs are omnivores, their nutritional needs are very close to that of humans; cats on the other hand are functional carnivores and their protein requirements are much higher than that of dogs. If your dog eats the cat food for a long time the excess amount of protein will eventually damage his kidneys.

If you plan to keep him but don’t want to or can’t buy dog food right now you would be better off cooking one extra serving at each meal and feed the dog what you eat. Humans and dogs evolved together and so their nutritional needs are very close.

There are a few things that you don’t want to give a dog:

Raw onions---Can damage red blood cells and cause anemia------Cooked onions are OK
Dark or semisweet chocolate---can be toxic and affect the heart perhaps fatally.
Grapes or Raisins---may damage the kidneys when consumed in quantity.
Raw eggs-----Cooked eggs are good for dogs but they can’t digest raw ones.
Macadamia nuts---Can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscles.
Bones----Can cause obstructions or laceration of the digestive system.

If you do plan to buy dog food, below is a bit of info that will come in handy. I use Diamond brand Lamb and Rice formula for my dogs. TS and my local feed store both carry it and I just pick up a few bags when I go in for chicken feed. It’s reasonably priced and it scores a 92 = B; which isn’t the best but it’s pretty good and out here in the sticks it’s the best I can do.

HOW TO RATE YOUR DOGS FOOD
(Some brands are already rated at the end)

Start with 100 points.

1. For every listing of "by-product, " subtract 10 points.

2. For every nonspecific animal source ("meat" or "poultry," meat, meal, or fat) reference, subtract 10 points.

3. If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.

4. For every grain "mill run" or nonspecific grain source, subtract 5 points.

5. If the same grain ingredient is used two or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice," "brewer's rice," "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points.

6. If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points.

7. If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points.

8. If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points

9. If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points.

10. If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points.

11. If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points.

12. If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points.

13. If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points.

14. If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef), subtract 1 point.

15. If it contains salt, subtract 1 point.

EXTRA CREDIT

1. If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points.

2. If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points.

3. If the food is baked (not extruded), add 5 points.

4. If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points.

5. If the food contains fruit, add 3 points.

6. If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points.

7. If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points.

8. If the food contains barley, add 2 points.

9. If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points.

10. If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point.

11. If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point.

12. For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one – count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and " " as 2 different sources), add 1 point.

13. If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point.

14. If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point.

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
70 = F

FOODS ALREADY SCORED

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 = A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 = F
Canidae / Score 112 = A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 = A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 = F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 = B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 = A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 = A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 = A+
Foundations / Score 106 = A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 = B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 = D
Innova Dog / Score 114 = A+
Innova Evo /Score 114 = A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables (Costco brand) / Score 110 = A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 = B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 = B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 = F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 = A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 = F
Purina Dog / Score 62 = F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 = F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 = A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 = A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 = A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 = F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 = F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 = A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 = A

 

[dacjohns]

Wow. Thank you.

Looking at the scores for Purina dog food makes me wonder about getting Purina chicken food.

 

[Davaroo]

Looking at the scores make me feel guilty - my dogs get whats on sale.

 

[talos321]

LOL people are less picky about their food than that list.

I've always have just given animals a variety.

Like people, I think it ok for once and a while for an animal to have the equivalent of a 'Big Mac". I think it raises their curiosity and change in their many times locked down environment. Like people, too many big Macs causes many big problems.

I had a dog live 25 years on just normal dog food, some house leftovers. It never had any health problems. I think that these highly regulated diets should be maintained if you have a picky purebred dog because many of them have been inbred to pronounce genetic defects (pekingese eyes sticking out, trouble breathing) I've never had a purebred dog that didn't have severe problems later in life, cancers, going blind, repeated ear infections. The vets loved me for a while.


Maybe I should feel guilty because my carnivorous cat will not eat fish, or fish flavored or scented food. He does eat lots of veggies strangely and grass when I take him outside. He does go with other types of meat like chicken, beef or their cat food equivalent. His favorite veggie I would say would be cabbage either raw or cooked. I've watched him eat a whole leaf.

 

[knippk]

I give my chickens scratch and soaked dog food everyday.....they love it.....it makes them lay very good also!!!