Too many treats?

[buckaroo's wife]

Hello! I currently have four pullets...i've been giving them treats (strawberries, tomatoes, etc.) and I'm wondering if you can give them TOO many treats?? I don't want to overload their systems...and I haven't noticed a decrease in their regular feed. Thanks!

 

[easttxchick]

You CAN give them too many treats, but as long as you see no decrease in their eating of their regular food, you probably aren't. You are also giving them good stuff like fruits and vegetables-not scratch and cracked corn.

 

[Kim_NC]

I like to keep treats to not more than 15% of their total feed.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

If its a very nutritious treat that I've added their vitamins or Red Cell to, I give it in the morning--when they're hungry and I know they'll eat it.

If its a less nutritious treat

I'll give it late in the day.

 

[gallusdomesticus]

I like to give my girls treats but you should do it in moderation. I used to give high sugar treats like grapes and figs but one of my older hens developed fatty liver syndrome so now I watch how much I give. Usually only once a day.

 

[12GAGirl]

My flock gets all sorts of treats but not daily. I clean out the fridge and they have a feast. I wonder if I am not feeding my flock enough. They seem to have stopped growing at 8 months old but laying like crazy.

 

[mistyfeather]

as long as it nutritious stuff their fine, i dont considder veggies a treat its part of their diet, greens and stuff but i do limit things like potatos and corn. i stick will wholesome oats , barley and verious seeds with limited cracked corn. they get fruit a few time a week

 

[gryeyes]

I throw in two hands full of BOSS in the morning, and one in the evening.

Once a week I put up a whole head of cabbage on a rope, for Tether Cabbage! games.

Some evenings, instead of BOSS, I give them shredded mozzarella cheese, which they eat out of my hands.

On the weekends, I am now letting 'em Free Range in the whole back yard, which is a major treat: fun to do and lots of goodies to eat. (Prior to starting the free ranging gigs, I would pull up young grass shoots and toss those into the run for them.)

I kinda wish I gave them more treats, but I'm not very awake in the mornings before I go to work. Tossing them some BOSS is about as thoughtful as I can be at that time of day. I'm usually in "catch up" mode in the evenings after work, and have to gather eggs and refill feeders and do the other chores, so the shredded cheese is the most "affectionate" treat item I can spare. (I specifically buy shredded cheese for them.)

And yet they still love me, so I must be giving them sufficient treats. I read about warm oatmeal and think, "Oh, I'll do that for them this weekend!" or other great treats like fruit mixed in with yoghurt, but I never have gotten around to treating them with those goodies.

 

[buckaroo's wife]

Great advice everyone, thank you!! I am feeding mostly fruits and veggies, some scratch every once in awhile. They are growing and will hopefully be laying by the end of this month....