The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[FridayYet]

Thank you so much. Tossed the oats in, and maybe I'll just mix the quinoa and rice in the compost.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I believe uncooked rice can kill both birds and mammals if consumed, or is that an old wives tale? Anyone?

 

[lazy gardener]

Old wive's tale. Raw rice is no more dangerous than any other uncooked grain.

We've all heard the warning: don't feed rice to birds or don't throw rice at weddings because birds will eat it. Fact is, rice cooked or uncooked won't hurt wild birds at all. The rumor is that uncooked rice hits the bird's tummy and then swells causing its stomach to explode.Dec 11, 2012
Fact or Fiction: Never Feed Rice To Birds - Cole's Wild Bird Feed

coleswildbird.com/2012/12/11/fact-or-fiction-never-feed-rice-to-birds/

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks for that LG, I always wondered, but never saw an exploding bird, so I wasn't sure.

 

[lazy gardener]

Remember days of old when they used to throw confetti at weddings? Then, they switched to rice as it would be a dual purpose, bio-degradeable, bird feed style of confetti. Since then, I think that some folks throw bird seed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I remember the rice, which by the way hurts when flung at you by well wishers.

 

[CuzChickens]

Bubbles work well. They pop into basically nothingness and don't hurt.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Bubbles work well. They pop into basically nothingness and don't hurt.

My brother and his wife had bubbles at their wedding, they got mad when no one knew what to do with them.

 

[CuzChickens]

My brother and his wife had bubbles at their wedding, they got mad when no one knew what to do with them.

Really? The latest one I went to, they were handing them out and telling us to blow them on the newlyweds, it was pretty all the bubbles drifting into the sunset.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Does anyone know about the laying capabilities of Belgian bantams? I've had my eye on them, but being bantams my neighborhood cats would have their eyes on them too.