Is there such a thing as too much "other" food?

[Agilityscots]

Silkie, how do you tell if a chicken is fat? I can't imagine being able to tell under all those fluffy feathers.

Amy

 

[horsewishr]

MS--We're not talking about factory farming here. We're talking about raising a few birds in the back yard. And melamine isn't the only "crap" they put in the food. Did you read the link that AgilityScots posted?
http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
Scary stuff in animal feed--no question. If I'm eating eggs from my own chickens, I'd much rather have them fed garden and table scraps than commercial feed.

And just because you can grow a pig faster on commercial feed than on "real" foods, it doesn't make commercial feeds better. Have you researched the difference between pastured eggs and factory eggs (i.e., hens fed commercial feeds)? Here's some info:

Eggs from pastured hens contain up to 20 times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than those their less fortunate cousins, factory hens. Pastured hens' diets are naturally complemented with bugs, earthworms, and other such critters that give their eggs a huge nutritious oomph. Pastured eggs also have 10 percent less fat, 40 percent more vitamin A, and 34 percent less cholesterol than eggs obtained from factory farms.

Similar differences can be found in the quality of beef raised on pasture, vs. feedlot. And, yes, I'm sure feedlot is faster.

But getting back to the original post, I'm wondering what's best for MY birds, who happen to live in the backyard--with easy access to table and garden scraps.​

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Well, when I picked them up they felt really round and had a harder time breathing. When they were on the ground, they weren't nearly as fast on their feet either. Another thing I noticed was that the birds "cusion" was very full and round, with I swear a yellowy tint to it which may have literally been the high amount of fat showing through the skin. A month later, they were faster and didn't feel nearly as plump, they breathed deeper and just felt slimmer.

I had to getup and close with the birds to tell some of the stuff.

 

[Agilityscots]

Okay, so it's just a general feel...and that yellow tint sounds gross! Ick!

Amy

 

[MissPrissy]

Corn will make their skin yellow, too.

 

[cookinmom]

I'm glad y'all asked this question, because I was wondering the same thing. If I give them fruit and/or veggies, and my husband gives 'em crickets, and I give 'em some yogurt, and then I turn 'em loose in the yard and they try to eat all the grass in one sitting, where is the room for the feed?! I try to give them either/or on the snacks, though, and the crickets are just occasional, but I was wondering if they ate too much when they're out in the yard how that would fit in with their food. I guess they know how to work it out?

 

[silkiechicken]

No idea how they fit it in but I think when it comes to food, chickens know what they need to nibble on to make them feel good.

As for the fat chickens, yes, the previous owners gave them lots of corn... which attributed to their fatness. I butchered a fat old hen once... and under the yellow skin... was seriously 2 inches of thick fat that was bright yellow! I was amazed, compared to my normal spent layers, it was amazing. The girls do need some fat there. Probably explains why it is named the cushion.

 

[cookinmom]

The cushion -- is that the chicken's bum, or something else? Sorry! Just don't know!

 

[silkiechicken]

From what I understand, the cushion is basically the chicken's bum. The part you cut into when you butcher them and gut them. Their fluff covers it up when they are alive.

 

[cookinmom]

Gotcha. On my girls, it looks like a big fat cushion too!