opinions on feeding chickens chicken meat and bones?

[centrarchid]

I am averse to cannibalism in production animals. Getting beyond disease risk issues if consumed raw, it is not an efficient way to feed. Feed remains to something else (dog or hog). Only time I value cannibalism is where is can be used as a tool to limit population size and other methods are more appropriate for poultry and livestock in general.

 

[CreateScott]

I gave our chickens the carcass of a roasted chicken after I had pulled off most of the meat. They picked it clean and loved it, but I confess it totally creeped me out. Not sure I'll do that again, lol, just feels WRONG.

The meat and bone marrow are what they need most for protein, vitamins and minerals. Their egg shells (cleaned and crushed) are what they need for calcium and better digestion, along with ample sunshine for vitamin D production, and a shade coop to cool off in excessive heat.

 

[Millymollymandy76]

It depends on what exactly you're feeding them. If it is ground and processed very carefully, it is not too bad. You just have to be careful, because if you don't know where the meat and bones came from, they could carry disease. That disease would then be passed to your birds. If you know it is from a disease-free source and processed well, it is not much different than feeding them fish meal (which is in many, many laying feeds and show-quality feeds).

 

[hammyanne]

My chickens love a carcass after I’ve made stock! It used to make me squeamish but where I’m at, the alternative would be to throw it into the trash (I don’t usually put meat scraps in my compost) so I’m happier having them clean up instead