Moldy scraps: this is the Car Talk "save our marriage" call!

[Chicken Fruit]

Quote:
Its a wonder chickens as a species survive at all. The things I catch mine snacking on fit into all of those catagories. Good thing us humans came along finally, to save them from themselves... hehe

Antibotic resistant infections doesnt make the chicken forever resistant to antibiotics, it just means that particular ailment will not be remedied by them.

 

[dukecitychick]

I just have to say I object to the pejorative use of "retarded." It's not PC, and it's not nice - you have no idea who my friends and family are and who you could be offending with that kind of language. I'm not just picking on you - I bug everyone about this because it's something I find grating and unnecessary. OK, end of diatribe. Back to chickens!!

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Whats the politically correct word to describe a chicken who's instinctual and mental ability has been retarded due to poor breeding? Doesnt retarded describe something that has been stunted?

how about... fairy chickens, who cannot think properly due to poor breeding.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

"I've been feeding mine moldy whatever for 40 years and they all lay two eggs a day."

I'm sorry, but none of my chickens will lay 2 eggs a day, no matter what I feed them.

Seriously, I feed my chickens any and all scraps from the kitchen and that has included moldy food. It also has to do with with 'how much' to 'how many.' When you throw a pan of kitchen scraps to 50 hens, nobody gets much more than a few pieces.

Some animals digest things others cannot. Our goats can eat 'borderline' hay that I would never feed to my horses. Some leftovers I've sent to the chickens because I know what 'gut' reaction I'd get if my dogs got it. Chickens are by nature scavengers/opportunists.

PS ~ since some of my chickens have full access to our manure/compost pile ... they'd get it there anyway.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I wanted to say something, but had not yet found a nice way of saying please, don't use the word "retarded" in a derogatory manner. It is offensive.

As to the original question- I feed them some pretty old stuff, but if it has active mold growing, I pitch it. I don't want the mold growing in the compost either!

 

[Cara]

It's not mold in general that's the problem, it's particular kinds of mold. I'm no moldologist, but the kinds found on feed that has been warm and damp are a big no no. Mold on old fruit isn't nearly as harmful.

 

[dukecitychick]

Amosunknown: How about "evolutionarily challenged"?

Seriously, though, thanks for the responses, everyone. I will feel a lot better about feeding them "sketchy" stuff now.

 

[MoodyChicken]

Quote:
Different mold species are worse than others, some are probably harmless ("of the more than 100,000 different species, most are either beneficial or harmless" - Chicken Health Handbook). Depending on the food stuff, you may have a different mold species. The molds that commonly grow on chicken feed are serious and can cause lung infections, organ detioration, skin infections, and drastically weaken the immune system. Unless you know what species of mold is growing on the food, I wouldn't feed it. Like the Chicken Health Handbook suggests, it could be harmless, but it also could be deadly, so why risk it? Like any poison, greater amounts will cause worse symptoms, so feeding a barely fuzzy loaf of bread probably won't hurt, but feed knowing you could kill them. I think it's better to throw the feed out than risk losing the flock.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

I refuse to use evolutionary challenged, you cannot imagine how many creationists in my friends and family there are who find it dreadfully offensive. And who also sit behind me whilst I type on backyardchickens reading every post to find offense at.

Good Lord. Of all the ridiculous things to be offended over. Because no one who says retarded could ever have friends and family who are accidentally or gentically mentally challenged. I've got DS and mental retardation in my family too! *gasp!* And guess what! The doctors tell us the same darn thing "her development is retarded!"

It wasnt derogatory for Monkeys sake, its a term that means thwarted, or stunted, or inhibited- something caused by breeding the snot out of something and taking away its genetic diversity. It could be mental function, or size, or shape, or its ability to thrive. It has nothing to do with name calling unless you're 6 and yelling at someone on the playground that made you angry.

I get so sick of people finding the most obscure things to be offended over. Stop being so overly hyper sensitive. I refuse to make myself so politically correct that it makes void and unusable half the english language just so no one might ever find a way to constrew words into offensive slurs. That is one of my biggest pet peeves. *rant end*

 

[ranchhand]

I figure it's like computers- garbage in, garbage out.

So, if I feed the chickens REALLY yucky stuff, the quality of the eggs will suffer. Now mind you, spoiling fruit and veggies are ok with me- it's the moldy stuff I won't give them. And I don't compost the hairy stuff, because I don't want those mold spores going into the garden. JMO!

We have a separate area for the furry, fuzzy stuff,, not used for anything but bugs!