Neighbor with weird feeding habits

[fowltemptress]

Ha, my dog food is WAY too expensive to be feeding to chickens, and the only thing I'd ever feed cheap dog food to is my roaches. I've known people to feed ducks dog food, but not chickens. My chickens always get our leftover chicken, though. I can't deny them their favorite food

 

[MamaDragon]

I had read in a different thread about feeding dog food to the chickens, so we gave it a try. Even the cheap brands of dry food come in lamb & rice formulas, as well as the other assorted "flavors."

Our egg production was down to 1 or 2 a day, for the last 4 weeks or so. Figured it was the heat, and let it go at that.

The rooster ran our 4 month old pup away from her dry food, so the hens could have a snack......egg production went back up to 5 - 6 a day, and that's from 6 laying hens.... and it stays up there for several days, then starts dropping off again.

So now, every 2 - 3 days, we give the adult chickens 1 - 1 1/2 cups of dry dog food, usually mixed in with about 3 cups of scratch. Everyone get to pick and choose which snack they want. They eat it when they want, and leave what they don't. The feral cats with come behind them and clean up whatever's left after we lock up the chickens for the night.

One other note - we have two 4.5 week chicks free-ranging with Mama.... they eat the scratch, peck at the dog-food, etc.... they are fully feathered and much larger than the three chicks of the same age that have been hand-raised, and not getting to range or have the dog-food snacks.

 

[Windy Ridge]

I'm all for upping the protein when they need it. I just happen to think a better way to do it is via sunflower seeds (unsalted, of course--hull and all). They're high in protein and high in methionone, an amino acid needed for feather growth. My girls lay "extra" when they've had access to sunflower, so I don't see the need to risk giving them processed stuff like cat or dog food.

 

[Beekissed]

I haven't been able to find any chicken feed brand or source that doesn't have animal byproducts in it. I've heard this is usually chicken feathers, ground up.

Does anyone know just exactly what the "animal byproducts, or animal proteins" is in these feeds?

 

[MamaDragon]

Usually, any "Animal Byproducts" are all the parts left over after butchering.... feet/hooves, brains, blood, internal organs, sometimes bones, that sort of thing. All must be cooked to a sterilizing temperature during processing. Sometimes, for livestock use, it's just horse-meat, but it can't be labeled as such.... human sensitivities, ya know??

Most places don't want to go to the trouble to clean intestines for additional use, so they are usually dumped, but they can be included as well, IF all the fecal matter has been removed and cleaned.

BTW - Unsell-able scraps and "Animal Byproducts" are what bologna and hot dogs are usually made from as well.

"Animal Proteins" are the scraps of meat and fat that are trimmed from a carcass during the butchering process, and blood. Also seen horse-meat used here as well.

While these byproducts are not regulated as strictly for animal food as for Human Consumption, they ARE regulated, and inspected. Only "X" parts per million of contaminants are allowed in random-test batches. The facilities that process meat /food for animals and livestock have to maintain the same sanitary conditions and handling procedures as the facilities that process for people food. (and yes, I realize that's not saying much sometimes, but at least there are Some Standards.)

HTH,
Kathy

 

[silkiechicken]

When I want to up the protein in my birds diet, I usually get a layer supplement to use as their main feed (20%protein) or a gamebird feed (28%). Too much of a good thing can be bad though as it can cause gout.