Should I feed them oats? Food help please :(

[Chica5592]

Is it a good idea to put a seperate bucket of fresh oats in the coop in addition to the layers crumbles i feed my 3 girls? They are just about 5 months old now, and I want them to have all the protein and vitamins they need to lay great eggs and to keep them at optimum health. I have a bag of organic oats that I need to get rid of.

Should I mix them with their layers crumbles or feed them to them in a sperate bucket, or should I not feed them streight whole oats at all?

What other foods should I be feeding them along with their layers crumbles?


For more information, they are RIR/Barred rock/White rock cross. There are three of them, all 5mts old. They are free range.

 

[Wildsky]

Use the oats as a treat!

My girls and boy get a cup of "treat" morning and night. Winter its scratch - summer they get sunflower seeds.... I just throw out the cup full and they have at it (now and then I give a little more - I have 17 chickens)

Other than that and their feed, they do get leftovers from the kitchen - veggie off cuts, or leftovers - now and then meat or tuna etc...

EDIT TO ADD: If you give them a whole bucket load of it,l they might choose to ONLY eat that - and that won't be good for them, everything in moderation and they'll be very happy!

 

[MissPrissy]

You can mix it or feed it as a treat. They will eat it. When I find oats I always make a mix and feed it to my laying hens, ducks, geese, guineas, turkeys - even the goats too.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Feed grade oats in particular have something called an "anti-nutritional " factor assoc with it (along with other grains such as barley etc) this is why certain enzymes are added to the commercial feed formulations.
I cook human oatmeal and add JUST enough to their daily portion of feed to make it clump together. It prevents wastage (and keeps them from pecking out the "goodies" and my feed is a combo pelleted/grain mix) ... just remember>too much of a good thing is a bad thing.

 

[eggzettera]

Just FYI for the "New Eggs" this would have been more appropriate in the "feeding time" section & most feeding questions are answerer here... https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart for quick & easy reference......