% of wheat?

[the_damsel]

I've read here in our wonderful forums that whole wheat kernels is good for chickens. Yay, because I was given a boatload of it. I'm wondering if it is appropriate to make it only a percentage of what I feed them, and if so, how much wheat vs. the crumbles I normally feed? (I've been giving them scratch as a treat.) In other words, would the wheat replace some of the crumbles I feed, or would it be a treat like the scratch is? Does that even make sense? Or just throw all three out and let them go at it?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I use it for scratch in the winter along with some BOSS.
It could make up about 10% of the diet. You can sprout it too.

 

[wsmith]

In addition to free choice pellets,and free choice calcium, I give my chickens scratch grains, which consist of 1/3 whole oats, 1/3 cracked corn, and 1/3 whole wheat. They love it and do fine. Buying the bags of grains and mixing it yourself is much cheaper than buying scratch grains pre-mixed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I addition to free choice pellets,and free choice calcium, I give my chickens scratch grains, which consist of 1/3 whole oats, 1/3 cracked corn, and 1/3 whole wheat. They love it and do fine. Buying the bags of grains and mixing it yourself is much cheaper than buying scratch grains pre-mixed.

Buying individual grains and seeds and mixing it myself is my preference also. I leave the corn out to eliminate the GMO factor.

 

[the_damsel]

So I think I'm hearing that using straight wheat instead of the mixed scratch isn't the best idea?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wouldn't say that. In summer my scratch is oats alone as it is a little higher in protein but low energy so doesn't generate heat.
In winter I give wheat.
I often add sunflower.
In any case, those things don't normally make up more than 10% of the diet.

 

[wsmith]

I cut down on the corn during the summer, and up the oats as well.

 

[ChickenJerk]

I wouldn't say that. In summer my scratch is oats alone as it is a little higher in protein but low energy so doesn't generate heat.
In winter I give wheat.
I often add sunflower.
In any case, those things don't normally make up more than 10% of the diet.

Complete layer rations never include more than 10% wheat for nutritional reasons.

At 7% or so a decrease in the intensity of the yolk color is also noticed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wheat can be a very high percentage of the diet. Additionally, wheat is on a par with corn in energy but other nutrients are higher in wheat, especially protein.
My comment was that if giving a complete feed, I wouldn't give more than 10% of wheat or anything else in addition to the feed.

A summary of the effects of replacing corn with wheat in feed manufacture.
http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/poultry/publications/documents/wheat.pdf

http://www.perennia.ca/Fact Sheets/...Reducing Feed Costs with Whole Wheat 2012.pdf

Another interesting study using wheat.
http://www.poultryindustrycouncil.ca/pdfs/factsheets/fs_79.pdf

Other studies indicate that up to 50% of the total diet can be wheat if formulas were adjusted to compensate.

Corn's effect on the egg yolk color is due to the carotene that chickens can't assimilate and ends up in the yolk. As it would with any plant product high in carotene.

 

[ChickenJerk]

Wheat can be a very high percentage of the diet. Additionally, wheat is on a par with corn in energy but other nutrients are higher in wheat, especially protein.
My comment was that if giving a complete feed, I wouldn't give more than 10% of wheat or anything else in addition to the feed.

A summary of the effects of replacing corn with wheat in feed manufacture.
http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/poultry/publications/documents/wheat.pdf

http://www.perennia.ca/Fact Sheets/...Reducing Feed Costs with Whole Wheat 2012.pdf

Another interesting study using wheat.
http://www.poultryindustrycouncil.ca/pdfs/factsheets/fs_79.pdf

Other studies indicate that up to 50% of the total diet can be wheat if formulas were adjusted to compensate.

All your references relate to BROILER CHICKENS not layers. So they do not totally apply.

Corn's effect on the egg yolk color is due to the carotene that chickens can't assimilate and ends up in the yolk. As it would with any plant product high in carotene.

Carotene is not the causative factor. Corn has some of the agent that causes a more yellow color but to be correct about it-

From The American Egg Board

Yolk

Yolk color depends on the hen’s diet. If a hen eats plenty of yellow-orange plant pigments called xanthophylls, the xanthophylls will be deposited in the egg yolk. Hens fed mashes containing yellow corn or alfalfa meal lay eggs with medium yellow yolks, while those eating wheat or barley yield lighter-colored yolks. A colorless diet, such as white cornmeal, produces almost colorless yolks. Natural yellow-orange substances, such as marigold petals, may be added to light-colored feeds to enhance yolk color. Artificial color additives are not permitted. Most buyers in this country prefer gold or lemon-colored yolks. Yolk pigments are relatively stable and are not lost or changed in cooking.
http://www.incredibleegg.org/egg-facts/eggcyclopedia/c/color