Scared to death

[SilkieMan]

I've heard and experienced (my friend's chickens) pass away from eating cracked corn. Only silkies. My chickens are my absolute world and my mom accidentally fed them cracked corn today. Do
You think they have a chance? I'm scared to death. It will tear me up if they don't make it..

 

[GoldDogsMom]

my girls get cracked corn with their scratch daily, just make sure they are getting it as a treat and not as the sole source of nutrition.

 

[stoopid]

I know it's harder to digest, but I don't think you would have a problem.
Just feel their crops, make sure it's not really hard. You should be fine.
And make sure they have lots of water.

 

[Imp]

I have never head of scratch killing chickens. Is it possible that your friend's corn was old, moldy or something like that?

Sorry for your friend's loss. I think your's will be fine.

Imp

 

[hallerlake]

I give my chickens cracked corn as a bribe.... I mean treat from time to time. It hasn't done them any harm. Be calm.

 

[seminolewind]

Make sure they have some grit to grind it up with. They need the grit. You can buy it at a feed store if you need to

 

[SilkieMan]

These are silkies. Not normal chickens. It's hard on their digestive systems. But thank you

 

[gallusdomesticus]

Here is an article about toxins in corn feed produced by mold that may be helpful.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/issues/lateharvest/poultry.html

It appears to have a detrimental effect on the bird's health but is not necessarily fatal.

 

[Shayna]

I feed my silkies corn in their scratch every day. They also get some veggies, their feed, and have grit available. I haven't had any issues with them.

ETA: If you've heard that cracked corn is more dangerous for silkies than other chickens, you may want to take your question to the silkie thread to find out how many others do this regularly. I've never heard of it killing them, although it lacks nutrition and shouldnt be the basis of their diet. I wouldn't worry.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=297632

 

[SilkieMan]

Thank you all for the advice. I'll check out the articles. Everyone seems to be going ok do far.