Regarding Oats...

[MoodyChicken]

I would like to start adding whole oats to my birds' feed. I've read that the oats help prevent purple feathering in black birds. But how much should I add? I have two 150 lb barrels and one 100 lb barrel... how much should I add to each?

 

[Pine Grove]

I've always fed up to1/3 oats, Anything more and they lose weight,,The purple barring in black feathers has more to do with breeding than what they are being fed, Same goes for brassiness in white feathers........

 

[MoodyChicken]

Thanks! Yeah, for the most part my birds are green but they tend to get a little purple if they eat too much cracked corn. I was told the oats neutralizes the corn. Plus my birds are getting bloody fat so the oats will help with that! lol

 

[spottedtail]

Oldtimers say oats help prevent feather picking too.
I'm not sure if it's actually true or not.

Anyways, 15% of our hens ration is whole oats, with the remainder
being Layer crumbles.

spot

 

[MoodyChicken]

I'd believe it. Oats are fiber. If birds are filling up on fiber they need to find and eat more protein. So they're spending more time eating and less time picking at each other.

15% sounds like a good amount for my flock. They really like the oats, but they have such a fast metabolism. I think any more and their weight would suffer. Thanks!