Raw beef and lamb suet ok to feed to the chickens?

[Carolyn252]

I searched the feeding forum but there are no postings there that indicate whether the suet is raw or not.

I cut some raw fat from the rack of lamb last night and saved it to give to the chickens, but want to make sure first that I'm not putting the chickens at risk.

Anybody know?

 

[Harborview Hens]

From my readings....I thought that it was better to stay away from fatty foods. I am curious as to what everyone thinks.

Also....does anyone feed papaya and persimmons to their chickens? Bought persimmons and papya at COSTCO and was wondering if they are safe foods.

 

[DianeS]

Raw meat and fat, if handled well and fed in small portions, isn't going to hurt your chickens.

Like any animal product, it can develop harmful bacteria if left outside for very long. So make sure it's an amount that the chickens will eat *quickly* so it doesn't spoil.
Also, it's high in some nutrients and low in others, so it should only be a tiny portion of their food for a day. (That whole "balanced diet" thing.)

But a couple spoonfuls of it, fed to a bunch of hens who scarf it up quickly, and you remove the dish so it doesn't sit outside? That won't hurt anything. It's excess and spoilage you want to avoid.

 

[Organics North]

Raw meat and fat, if handled well and fed in small portions, isn't going to hurt your chickens.

Like any animal product, it can develop harmful bacteria if left outside for very long. So make sure it's an amount that the chickens will eat *quickly* so it doesn't spoil.
Also, it's high in some nutrients and low in others, so it should only be a tiny portion of their food for a day. (That whole "balanced diet" thing.)

But a couple spoonfuls of it, fed to a bunch of hens who scarf it up quickly, and you remove the dish so it doesn't sit outside? That won't hurt anything. It's excess and spoilage you want to avoid.

bingo
agreed

We feed small portions of raw meat scrap. Attention to keeping things clean.

 

[duckinnut]

As long as it is fed as treat only there won't be a problem. Let me say this as I work in the meat dept. of a local market and come home often with bits of fat,meat, burger and the like on my boots and pants. I get mauled by the girls

and can't even step without landing on someones foot. On the days where I close and cleanup is part of the deal I will take the sawdust(bone and meat dust which includes a certain amount of fat and marrow) from the bandsaw which is cleaned every day home with me. Want to talk about chicken crack? While it is an excellent protein and calcium blast for the girls in the dead of winter it turns into a frenzy of epic proportions. It makes a shark feeding frenzy look like tea with the queen. But they only get this treat a couple times a week with no ill effect other than happy chickens

that are emerging from molt and beginning to pump out eggs again.

 

[Organics North]

As long as it is fed as treat only there won't be a problem. Let me say this as I work in the meat dept. of a local market and come home often with bits of fat,meat, burger and the like on my boots and pants. I get mauled by the girls

and can't even step without landing on someones foot. On the days where I close and cleanup is part of the deal I will take the sawdust(bone and meat dust which includes a certain amount of fat and marrow) from the bandsaw which is cleaned every day home with me. Want to talk about chicken crack? While it is an excellent protein and calcium blast for the girls in the dead of winter it turns into a frenzy of epic proportions. It makes a shark feeding frenzy look like tea with the queen. But they only get this treat a couple times a week with no ill effect other than happy chickens

that are emerging from molt and beginning to pump out eggs again.

Yep,
I would not want to fall down and crack my head open and be knocked out.... I am pretty sure they would eat me before I awoke..

Why just a treat? You buy feed yes? That feed has animal protein in it yes? The animal protein is the most expensive part of a feed mix... Why not make your own feed and give your self a raise, since you have access to it... You are throwing animal protein in the trash and turning around and spending your hard earned dollars to buy it back in that bag of feed...
methionine is gold..!!

Of course I agree If one is feeding a balanced purchased feed, then the meat scrap should only be a treat for the birds..... But it is a whole different story if one makes their own feed....

Heck I would at least feed a whole lot more low protein scratch and then supplement with that meat scrap you got access too to bring their protein intake back up to the proper level..!

 

[what did I do]

When we calve, the cows have to fight the chickens for the plcentas. It is so funny to watch. My chickens give more eggs when they have that extra protein
When butchering I just toss the leftovers out to the chickens. Well fed chickens lay more eggs.

 

[duckinnut]

Yep,
I would not want to fall down and crack my head open and be knocked out.... I am pretty sure they would eat me before I awoke..

Why just a treat? You buy feed yes? That feed has animal protein in it yes? The animal protein is the most expensive part of a feed mix... Why not make your own feed and give your self a raise, since you have access to it... You are throwing animal protein in the trash and turning around and spending your hard earned dollars to buy it back in that bag of feed...
methionine is gold..!!

Of course I agree If one is feeding a balanced purchased feed, then the meat scrap should only be a treat for the birds..... But it is a whole different story if one makes their own feed....

Heck I would at least feed a whole lot more low protein scratch and then supplement with that meat scrap you got access too to bring their protein intake back up to the proper level..!

While I agree to a point and I am a DYI guy, time is often a constraint for me. Another factor is the amount of "free protein" varies from day to day and week to week with no set amount. All depends what is being cut. As I posted my girls are just emerging from molt, a few still working on getting back to laying and with the cold of winter upon us my treat is plus for them.

I understand your point bit the OP was basically asking whether it was safe to feed raw fat which it is as a treat. I personally wouldn't make it a regular diet for them.

 

[ladytoysdream]

When we get deer meat in the fall, I make sure to grind up the leftover scraps, fat, etc.
We cut our own deer, and then when I start the grinding, I do what I call number 1 for us the humans first.
Then what I call # 2, would be the more muscle pieces like from the front legs. That is dog food.
Then the fat, the scraps from the ribs, and other not so pretty pieces, get ground up for the chickens.
I then bag off the hamburg in 1 pound bags and it goes in the freezer.
In the winter, I can pull 1 or 2 bags at a time, and let them thaw first. For the chickens, I have fed both
raw , and have cooked it for them. Either way, it is a treat, and not a main part of their diet. If I had
more meat scraps available, I probably would up the amount I feed, but would want to maintain it and
not make drastic changes in their diet. Right now it is only once in awhile, and not a daily part of their feed.
And as mentioned, any leftovers should be removed if not eaten in a timely manner.
Which is not going to happen here...not with 45 hens.

We feed the wild birds fat and suet blocks. I have made homemade suet blocks, and fed it to the chickens.
Wow, were they impressed. I should do some for them now, but I am going to have to shop around,
to get a good deal on suet in quanity.

I am doing what I have to do to keep the cost of feed down. I'm also open to new ideas

 

[Leisure Range]

I searched the feeding forum but there are no postings there that indicate whether the suet is raw or not.

I cut some raw fat from the rack of lamb last night and saved it to give to the chickens, but want to make sure first that I'm not putting the chickens at risk.

Anybody know?

I feed my chickens raw beef fat almost daily. It is high energy, they love it and it helps avoid impacted crawls by providing a level of lubrication. People have always put it out for wild birds; why not chickens? And my hens are laying gangbusters. Of course, I also have a 25 lb feeder for top quality laying pellets, crushed oyster shells, crushed pebbles, and a high protein all-flock feed, and a head of cabbage almost daily. Take a string with a nail and hang the cabbage where they can get to it. Bon appetit.