Shouldn't feed dog/cat food to chickens

[matilda]

Hi all,
I've read in a couple places now that pet food is ok for chickens. They do like it and I confess I would rather my hens cleaned up spilled dog or cat food than mice or rats do it. However, it is not advisable to feed products made with chicken to chickens. Those rare and obscure brain diseases that have hit the cattle industry were spread when cattle by-products were added to cattle feed. To be on the safe side, do not feed pet foods made with chicken by-products to chickens. In all likelyhood it is safe, but we raise our own hens becasue we want a healthy product, right? Some horse grain mixes are a nice change of pace for your hens and you can get them the very cheapest stuff available. The rice/lamb pet foods would be fine. Some rural feed stores will also get you bulk feed--get a ton and you'll get a price break. My hens get wheat, hen pellets, and anything they can find outside.

 

[moduckman]

Can't say for sure if that is correct, but I will confess that I am a little paranoid about my dogs and cats eating chicken flavored food. I just never had, I'm afraid that it may make them like the taste of chickens. I always get the beef or lamb dog food and some sort of fish cat food. The chickens do love the canned cat food though.

 

[azelgin]

Here is a thread you may find interesting: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=122832
More information than you may want to know, about chickens eating chicken.

 

[FarmerDenise]

You have a good point there. Although it is hard to stop my chickens from pushing the dog away to get at the dogfood.
We do happen to get lamb and rice not the kind with chicken. Our dog ends up with skin problems if we're not carefull what we feed her.
Thanks for the suggestion of getting horse grain. I'll look into that. Our chickens get all kinds of goodies from our farm.

 

[Hoot]

Our chickens use to clean up the dry dog food the dogs left. It was nice not to have a mess around the kennel.

Oh course they started chasing cars,barking at the moon and one even bit the mailman.

I really have nothing of value to add to this conversation....I'll go away.

Hoot

 

[gritsar]

Mine clean up the goat's food (along with the cat & dog food).
Now I know what those sharp bony things are growing out of the tops of their heads.

 

[Wynette]

As a rule, it's really not the best thing to feed them...they should eat feed developed for chickens. But lots of us DO feed dog/cat food occasionally, and I can't see where letting them "clean up" spilled food would be such a bad thing! I throw in a handful of barn cat food (dry) every other day when mine are in molt; the extra protein helps them through the molt a little easier.

 

[CARS]

I feed my chickens a handful of cat food once a week as a treat. It's just fun to watch them race for the treats once in a while. (I also do rabbit pellets once a week too)

Now that I think about it I have had a milk bone dog treat a couple times, and in all honesty I eat things that aren't good for me on a regular basis. So I think I am just treating my chickens like I treat myself ( or even better!!!).

 

[JennsPeeps]

My chickens eat chicken on occassion. It's OK.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Has anyone ever really nheard of anything along the lines of "mad chicken disease"?

Honestly, MOST animals are cannibalistic if the opportunity presents itself. I really wouldn't worry about feeding them chicken based products. Well, except for the low quality of a lot of cat and dog foods....if it is a high quality food I don't see it as a problem.