Peanuts for Chickens??

[wickett]

My daughter's science teacher is wanting her to do a science project by feeding some chickens a small amount of peanuts and the other no peanuts. The idea is to see if those that are fed the peanuts would produce larger or more eggs than those who don't get the extra protein. I am sure we would have to use raw peanuts but not really sure if they are even good to feed to your chickens. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks
Wickett
mother of six chickens and four children.

 

[gsim]

I know that once upon a time they were considered hog feed. I also know that they are the produce with the greatest concentration of fungal mycotoxins, exceeding that of wheat. Fungal mycotoxins can cause a fungal overgrowth in any creature. I cannot say that I would feed mine peanuts even if I could get them unless no other protein was available. Beans are protein and would be far safer to consume. They can be dried beans ground up to a coarse grind. For an experiment feed one bunch live fresh greens daily with their other feed according to their age, and feed the other bunch the peanuts with their feed, same amount of feed for both. I would bet that the ones eating the greens might perform better. Mine get greens all of the time and lay about one egg / day / chicken in wintertime with no artificial light at all. Greens, fruit, and raw meat have live enzymes that are not present in other feeds.

If you do this, please post results on here as "peanut experiment". I would like to follow it.

 

[catdaddy66]

I have read peanuts are a good treat but never the salted variety, only unsalted!

 

[technodoll]

My birds go BANANAS for their peanut treats!

Unsalted, of course.

I buy them in small batches from the feed store and every few days the flock gets a handful or two.

I call it my "how to make friends" treat

 

[tnchickenut]

i feed mine peanuts, raw, occasionally. i call it chicken crack because thats how they act about it verses their other treats.

i think for your teacher's experiment you should use protien tablets (google first state vet supply)... too many peanuts couldn't be good and you run the risk of over-doing it... they like it that much.