Oat Bran OK???? Please help....

[jenjen]

I have a huge bag of Organic Oat Bran. I'm not familar with it. Is it something I can throw a couple handfulls to the chickens eveyday?? Does anyone know of any reasons it might not be healthy?? I have 10 pullets that are about 5 and 1/2 months old, not laying yet. Any input would be appreciated. I don't want to make them sick. Thank You!

 

[keljonma]

That would be fine. And they'll probably love it. Make sure they have grit if you're feeding anything besides feed.

 

[antlers]

Oat bran is basically fiber and while they MAY eat it , it will provide VERY little nutrition for them. I would be suprised if they did eat it though. When I feed whole oats to mine, you have to watch close becasue they are fast but they pick up a kernal and if it is not solid (just a empty hull) they flip it out and go for another. Unless there is significant grain weight there, they will not eat it.

 

[tvtaber]

Good heavens yes, although I agree they may not eat it. Actually, YOU should be eating that stuff!!

 

[LynneP]

You can mix it with other wet treats like yogurt or leftover veggies. Remember that when bran is fed to animals it should be moistened first and allowed to expand a little so it doesn't imapct the crop. Be sure they have grit when you feed somthing without it added.

 

[d.k]

* The oil content of oat bran do tend to go rancid pretty quickly if it gets at all warm--Try to keep it good and cool, and make sure they/you are always taking in enough fluid with it. .Experiment with some of it, make oat bran muffins, banana oat snack loaves, oat bran pancakes, and part oat-bran oatmeal cookies. You can also use it as part of the "binder" for meatloaf.