Suet Blocks

[5littlechickens]

O.K. so on the thread about flock blocks, there was also some talk about suet blocks, is it o.k. to feed those to your chickens?

Jody

 

[Matt A NC]

Some is fine. Just remember Suet is high in fat and chickens don't need any extra fat in the summer.

Matt

 

[5littlechickens]

So not so much in the summer but it would be o.k. in the winter sometimes. How about the bird feed blocks that don't have the suet? Would that be o.k. to give them as a treat for pecking on? My birds are horrible at pecking out all there chicken feed and making a huge mess.

Jody

 

[Matt A NC]

My chickens get some bird seed as a treat from time to time. Just DO NOT put it in there feed bowl. They will throw all it out to find more seed and leave a big mess. A couple handfuls on the ground or a block hanging from a tree works just fine.

Matt

 

[fldiver97]

Agree with the amount of fat and would limit that. There is a thread on blocks, mostly home made but it mentions some of the commercial ones. I think you'd like that info...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=111647

It's in the 'Feeding...' section under homemade purina block

 

[5littlechickens]

Quote:
I read that post, it's what got me thinking about the other blocks. I'm headed to the feed store today so I thought I would try one of the little bird seed blocks and see how they like it. I'm hoping it might cut down on the feed throwing if they have something else fun to peck at.

Thanks everyone,
Jody

 

[LynneP]

I feed them. I find that a block lasts 12 hens about 2 weeks, a little less in winter. Keeps the coat lustrous. Mine are in a slow moult, and egg production is down by about 1/3 but the birds look good.