Is is okay to feed chickens dog food?

[Detail]

Its winter here in AZ and there is a lack of bugs. My chickens are free ranged, but I give them plenty of chicken food. I have noticed that they are loosing weight (probably cuz there's no bugs). Is it okay to feed them dog or cat food along with their chicken food? I give it to my ducks and they seem to love it. They might have worms too, but I have been putting DE in their food.

 

[magikchick]

I give mine a little cat food from time to time as well as plain yoguart. They will sneak into the house to steal the dogs food.

Caught!!!

 

[dixiechick]

yep...I've been to National shows and seen the champs being fed dog food as treats...especially that soft dog food (not wet food) that comes in packs.

 

[Detail]

Okay that's good! I will feed them dog food on a regular basis to see if they gain any weight.

 

[dixiechick]

you can also feed then hamburger meat too (raw). I've made treats with hamburger meat, wheat germ and rolled oats. They LOVE it...it also calms nervous birds down too. I treat them with this when we go to shows...

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Hmmm... that sounds suspiciously like meat loaf to me...

Do you use raw hamburger and just mush in the wheat germ and rolled oats? Are rolled oats just a variation on the oats you make oatmeal out of? Can they eat it raw? Mine love cooked oatmeal, but I've never tried raw.

Thanks!

 

[dixiechick]

I just mush all the raw stuff together...they love it...

 

[jvls1942]

some dry dog food swells up when moisture is added..

You might want to moisten the doog food up before you feed it..

 

[sunnychooks]

Quote:
I'll second that. I own a dog boarding kennel and if a dog does not finish his food I add water, let it soak and give it to the chickens. It's gone in seconds!

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

Yes dog food is ok to feed to chickens , ducks and geese but should be wetted down first so it swells before they eat it , or thats what my STROMBERG book says