is it good to feed chickens wheat?

[Digby57]

So the argument against FF is that commercial operations don't do it? That's not much of an argument at all. Sorry to the OP, this was supposed to be about wheat.

If you're looking for an inexpensive supplement for your standard bagged feed you might consider finding your nearest microbrewery and seeing if they have some good leftovers. Google it, chickens love it and it might be free for the taking. I tried but I was too late, not one of the 5 micros within an hours drive of me wasn't already giving theirs away to a patron with chickens.

Just an idea, but neither brewers grains or wheat is a complete ration, as has been said several times here.

 

[lazy gardener]

My apology also to OP for hijacking his post about using wheat as a sole ration. I do hope question was answered adequately, and not lost in the FF issue.

 

[centrarchid]

If the birds are free-range, then "ration" itself is not proper term. It is a supplement to the forage base. The "my way or the highway business" is yet again a function of the assumption that all nutrition is coming via a feed. Then it comes back on my approach where the assumption is the free-forage has sufficient quality and quantity for a supplement providing mostly energy with an imbalanced protein to work. Behavior and performance of birds needed to figure that out. You should always be watching your birds at least as much as looking at nutrient profiles provided in a table.

 

[Digby57]

I am perplexed as to what good it does to quibble about the definition of "ration" but in all types of livestock nutrition I have dabbled a "ration" means the formulation and amount of feed per head given to livestock, regardless of whether or not they also have access to land to forage. You liken the word "ration" to a bread-line I guess. That's just the first sentence.

The rest of what you say here, I glean the meaning from reading it repeatedly, but I'm still not positive what you're trying to get across. Do you not agree that at certain times of the year the "ration" could be considered the supplement to the range, and vice-versa? I understand that a spreadsheet of numbers is no substitute for observation of the animal's progress or decline, but what did you really mean about "my way or the highway."? I really don't kin your meaning.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, I feed my birds all sorts of things. Sometimes I forment the scratch, and then use the fluid to wet the layer feed. Sometimes I sprout wheat to add to their feed in the winter, but to be honest, I thought they would love the green stuff, but they go for the sprouts.

As Centrachid states look at your birds, how do they look, how do they act. Is there feed left over, feed less. Are they a bit too desperate when you bring feed? Feed more. My flock has never been an exact same amount of feed each day, what they eat changes with the season and with the weather some what, and with the age of the birds.

The best way to reduce your feed bill is to reduce your flock. The second best way is not over feed, and have waste feed. The third best way is to not have rodents eating your feed.

I know a lot of people fret about what they feed them, but I have found them a pretty forgiving lot. Mine eat what they get, and give me eggs. Some days the nutrition is spot on, sometimes not so close.

Mrs K

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Wheat is OK as PART of the diet, your yolks won't be as yellow as if you feed corn.

But in NO WAY is it sufficient as a complete diet. First, it is too low in protein and chickens NEED the amino acids contained in animal protein to sustain them. 16% protein is the minimum needed to sustain a light bodied layer like Leghorn. If I remember correctly, wheat is around 14% protein.

Second, it is lacking in vitamins and minerals which are ADDED to layer or any other formulated ration that IS meant to meet the nutritional needs of the animal.

I can get a lot of things cheaper than chicken feed... but I didn't get chickens to save $. I got them so I could get eggs from hens that were living a BETTER life than they would in the factory. And NO, I can't raise my chickens or get eggs cheaper. They cost me more because I can't get feed at the same price as the factory. They have means to store their grain and therefor save by buying tons at a time. While I can save some by buying larger amounts, I am limited on storage and then I have to worry about rodents, mold, grain mites, or other issues and might even lose what I have stored to those conditions.

Layer feed also has oyster shell, usually at a rate of about 4% which helps the hens to have solid egg shells. I personally don't use layer because I wan't my heavier breed birds to have a good amount of protein and NOT the bare minimum. I want them to thrive, not survive. I provide oyster shell free choice on the side and they use what they need.

If you feed wheat as a sole diet long term, eventually any saving you make will be defeated by decreased egg production (even if you don't notice you aren't realizing your FULL potential), and by diminished health of the flock. They will be more susceptible to illness and disease and they will die younger. Also, nutritional deficit leads to flock behavioral issues like feather picking. Feeding a nutritional balanced feed is the BEST thing you can do for you birds, aside from not overcrowding and making live in waste filled conditions. If you choose to feed only wheat, I would suggest finding a good vitamin and mineral supplement to add with it, which might negate your savings to.

IF I were gonna include wheat as a major component of the diet... I would definitely sprout it and/or grow it into fodder. That being said, my time is more valuable than gold. Once it's gone I can't get it back or make more of it. So it's not always about the mighty $. Life is too short.

If your birds are free range and the pasture is good with bugs and a variety of greens, you may be OK. But ultimately as a person who cares about helping people get the best and do the best for their birds... I would NOT feed wheat as a sole ration and I hope you don't either. I have felt that temptation before.

i have a flock of 30 chickens and i feed wheat as a complete diet, i do this because in our location wheat is a lot more cheap than layer feed, is it ok to feed them wheat as a complete diet?
any advice would be helpful!

Wheat is a treat, not feed. Using wheat for feed for commercial hybrid layers and broilers is like punishing them, like killing them. Only dominant CZ layers and very old traditional strains of gamefowl breeds can survive in a such poor feeding ration.
I know that many people have allergies to things contained in a layer or broiler feed.
I also know that many farmers need to use only scratch to label their products as products coming from an "alternative" system.
And giving only wheat is a much more serious crime if you breed your chickens. Poor baby chicks inside the eggs won't have the nutrients they need.Also bear in mind that the more vitamins contained in their feed the healthier for you the eggs and meat.

 

[city chicken farmer]

i have a flock of 30 chickens and i feed wheat as a complete diet, i do this because in our location wheat is a lot more cheap than layer feed, is it ok to feed them wheat as a complete diet?
any advice would be helpful!

This one is easy for me answer is no . I use to feed my hens scratch only and they never did lay the right amount of eggs .

 

[city chicken farmer]

i have a flock of 30 chickens and i feed wheat as a complete diet, i do this because in our location wheat is a lot more cheap than layer feed, is it ok to feed them wheat as a complete diet?
any advice would be helpful!

NO I know for sure . I use to feed my chickens scratch only and only got about 50 percent of eggs as I should have been getting . The chickens were fat and healthy just did not lay the right amount of eggs .

 

[Don Merriman]

I believe that variety is the spice of life. This goes for me, all my pets, including my flock. My hens get what I feed them. They always have access to pellets. They get fermented grains once a day and scratch in the morning. I feed them safe kitchen scraps that include vegetables, fruits and bread (mostly sourdough that I make myself). When the weather is agreeable they get to free range in the yard (I chaperone their free ranging. I’ve learned my lesson to not leave them alone. Amazing how quickly 6 hens can destroy a flower or vegetable bed). My hens are healthy and give me an abundance of eggs with nice dark yolks.

 

[RubyHummingbird]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Wheat is OK as PART of the diet, your yolks won't be as yellow as if you feed corn.

But in NO WAY is it sufficient as a complete diet. First, it is too low in protein and chickens NEED the amino acids contained in animal protein to sustain them. 16% protein is the minimum needed to sustain a light bodied layer like Leghorn. If I remember correctly, wheat is around 14% protein.

Second, it is lacking in vitamins and minerals which are ADDED to layer or any other formulated ration that IS meant to meet the nutritional needs of the animal.

I can get a lot of things cheaper than chicken feed... but I didn't get chickens to save $. I got them so I could get eggs from hens that were living a BETTER life than they would in the factory. And NO, I can't raise my chickens or get eggs cheaper. They cost me more because I can't get feed at the same price as the factory. They have means to store their grain and therefor save by buying tons at a time. While I can save some by buying larger amounts, I am limited on storage and then I have to worry about rodents, mold, grain mites, or other issues and might even lose what I have stored to those conditions.

Layer feed also has oyster shell, usually at a rate of about 4% which helps the hens to have solid egg shells. I personally don't use layer because I wan't my heavier breed birds to have a good amount of protein and NOT the bare minimum. I want them to thrive, not survive. I provide oyster shell free choice on the side and they use what they need.

If you feed wheat as a sole diet long term, eventually any saving you make will be defeated by decreased egg production (even if you don't notice you aren't realizing your FULL potential), and by diminished health of the flock. They will be more susceptible to illness and disease and they will die younger. Also, nutritional deficit leads to flock behavioral issues like feather picking. Feeding a nutritional balanced feed is the BEST thing you can do for you birds, aside from not overcrowding and making live in waste filled conditions. If you choose to feed only wheat, I would suggest finding a good vitamin and mineral supplement to add with it, which might negate your savings to.

IF I were gonna include wheat as a major component of the diet... I would definitely sprout it and/or grow it into fodder. That being said, my time is more valuable than gold. Once it's gone I can't get it back or make more of it. So it's not always about the mighty $. Life is too short.

If your birds are free range and the pasture is good with bugs and a variety of greens, you may be OK. But ultimately as a person who cares about helping people get the best and do the best for their birds... I would NOT feed wheat as a sole ration and I hope you don't either. I have felt that temptation before.

wow, THANKS for you awesome information. impressive and straight forward, really appreciate!!! nancy on Vancouver Island with a small flock