Meat: to feed or not to feed? That is the question.

[stinkysneakers]

My chickens eat a free choice diet of layer pellets, table scraps, and whatever they can find free ranging. Everyone I've talked to says that they feed their chickens scraps too; but they all say, "We feed them everything but meat." So far no one has been able to explain the mentality behind not feeding them meat. I understand not feeding them salty or heavily seasoned things, or raw eggs (lest they acquire a taste for them), but I don't know the reason(s) why meat is excluded. Wouldn't the extra protein be good for them? Is it just mental qualms, or heebie geebies, or is there some deeper reason like not attracting predators with meat smell? (But then again, the chickens themselves ARE meat, so that doesn't make much sense either.) Can anybody explain this to me? What do y'all do?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My thoughts.
Chickens are both omnivorous and scavengers. If in the wild they would happen on an animal carcass, they would eat it.
Animal protein is superior in amino acid blend to grain/legumes. I add fishmeal to my organic vegetable grower feed.
Meat scraps of all types - beef, pork, poultry, fish are readily consumed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

My thoughts.
Chickens are both omnivorous and scavengers. If in the wild they would happen on an animal carcass, they would eat it.
Animal protein is superior in amino acid blend to grain/legumes. I add fishmeal to my organic vegetable grower feed.
Meat scraps of all types - beef, pork, poultry, fish are readily consumed.

X 2 - which is why I find the "all natural veggie diet" that Purdue likes to advertise that they feed their birds so amusing. Our flock gets meat.

 

[sourland]

My thoughts.
Chickens are both omnivorous and scavengers. If in the wild they would happen on an animal carcass, they would eat it.
Animal protein is superior in amino acid blend to grain/legumes. I add fishmeal to my organic vegetable grower feed.
Meat scraps of all types - beef, pork, poultry, fish are readily consumed.

Agreed - there is absolutely no legitimate reason to not feed animal protein.

 

[stinkysneakers]

I like your reasoning! And it's so much easier to just toss all the scraps together into one big bucket rather than trying to remember (and get the fam to remember) to put the meaty bits in a separate container.

 

[carolb5]

I feed ground meat daily to provide the protein needed by my flock.

Carol

 

[Rainier]

If they don't get it from us they get it while free roaming. I have seen them eat mice that they find.

 

[welasharon]

THey need meat or at least animal protein in their diets...I honestly hope I never knock myself unconscious in the chicken yard....I do believe they would eat me too.

 

[Rainier]

THey need meat or at least animal protein in their diets...I honestly hope I never knock myself unconscious in the chicken yard....I do believe they would eat me too.

mine at the very least would eat my toes

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If they don't get it from us they get it while free roaming. I have seen them eat mice that they find.

Yep - there is some awesome footage of a hen downing a mouse whole on "The Private Life of a Chicken" (which I recommend for more than just that footage )