To feed or not to feed!

[usedhobarts]

Hello all, it seems like every few days I'm checking on here on whether it's ok to feed my chickens certain table scraps and other foods I would normally toss out after a few days of sitting in left over containers in the fridge. I'm finding that it seems chickens virtually eat anything and most times gleefully. Other than avocado I have not heard of anything that can't or should not eat. My question would this. Instead of me constantly asking if something is ok is there anything other than avocados I should not ever feed them? They seem to really like table scraps of all kinds. I would feel bad if I were feeding them that would be bad for them.

Thank you in advance.

 

[highrockieschic]

I found the treat chart in the learning center very helpful. Here is the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

 

[usedhobarts]

Hello and thanks,

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Hello all, it seems like every few days I'm checking on here on whether it's ok to feed my chickens certain table scraps and other foods I would normally toss out after a few days of sitting in left over containers in the fridge. I'm finding that it seems chickens virtually eat anything and most times gleefully. Other than avocado I have not heard of anything that can't or should not eat. My question would this. Instead of me constantly asking if something is ok is there anything other than avocados I should not ever feed them? They seem to really like table scraps of all kinds. I would feel bad if I were feeding them that would be bad for them.

Thank you in advance.

Don't feed them anything moldy as it can kill chickens.

If you can eat it they can eat it generally, except I don't like to feed chocolate, high sugar and salt items (too much salt can kill them), and avocado peels/seeds. I don't feed raw potato peels but cooked I do feed.

They should never be fed raw soy, raw beans (raw split peas and lentils are OK), or anything that would cause them to have predators come to the pen. For example I don't pour out meat juices onto the ground when I give table scraps. But I do give meat scraps of course, just not the juices.

I don't give them chicken bones or other bones, of the table scraps, either.

Also they are reported to not really tolerate unclabbered milk all that well, but I still feed dairy products whenever I want to, which is not that often. I have found that cheese makes their poo nasty.

 

[usedhobarts]

Thanks for the info. I'm really glad for this site. I gave the chickens some raw salmon tonight and little that was left over cooked. They seem to know when I'm bringing treats but for some reason they were beside themselves on the arrival of the salmon. I thought they were going to crawl up my legs to get to it. Even the roo who stands back a bit was pretty excited. This was the first time I have given human protein. I'm not sure I could feed them chicken scraps or scrambled eggs or otherwise as that just seems a bit morbid. I'm thrilled they like a lot of different things as I hate to throw things out . Someone told me caggage is bad for them so stopped giving it to them. My girls, when they got it, loved it. Have you heard of any issues on raw caggage? I read an article elsewhere where a guy hangs a cabbage tether ball in his coop and the chicken love it. They roll around and peck nectarines until they get to the pit and then eat the pit also. Seems like good exercise for them lol. I would think bouncing a hanging cabbage tether ball around would entertaining for them also.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thanks for the info. I'm really glad for this site. I gave the chickens some raw salmon tonight and little that was left over cooked. They seem to know when I'm bringing treats but for some reason they were beside themselves on the arrival of the salmon. I thought they were going to crawl up my legs to get to it. Even the roo who stands back a bit was pretty excited. This was the first time I have given human protein. I'm not sure I could feed them chicken scraps or scrambled eggs or otherwise as that just seems a bit morbid. I'm thrilled they like a lot of different things as I hate to throw things out . Someone told me caggage is bad for them so stopped giving it to them. My girls, when they got it, loved it. Have you heard of any issues on raw caggage? I read an article elsewhere where a guy hangs a cabbage tether ball in his coop and the chicken love it. They roll around and peck nectarines until they get to the pit and then eat the pit also. Seems like good exercise for them lol. I would think bouncing a hanging cabbage tether ball around would entertaining for them also.

Raw fish can pass parasites I have read, so I would only feed cooked.

Cabbage is fine raw. The baby chick when inside the egg eats the egg yolk so it is perfect chicken food (eggs). That is why the hatcheries can ship day old chicks through the mail and they survive. The chicks are still digesting the egg yolk.

You are welcome!

 

[usedhobarts]

I learned something new again. I thought the yolk was what formed into the embryo. So how does the chic form in the egg?

 

[5raven5]

Here is a fabulous list as well as a fabulous website: http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/02/toxic-treats-what-not-to-feed-your.html