Too much veggies and fruits?

[Drumstick63]

Did you read every post here in this thread?

I’m working on it, what is your answer ? I feed layer feed besides the fruits and veggies, what should I do different ?

 

[Drumstick63]

Both are very low in protein. Veggies are also low in energy; fruit is high in energy but it is primarily sugars. Chickens move constantly so they need a lot more energy for their size than most species. And they need enough protein and it needs to be the right types of protein in the right proportions.

They have relatively short, simple digestive systems. So they have limited capacity for feed... they don't have the margin for feed that doesn't give them enough energy or enough protein that many other species do.

So besides layer feed what should I feed them ? What should I feed them ? They don’t free range at this point

Both are very low in protein. Veggies are also low in energy; fruit is high in energy but it is primarily sugars. Chickens move constantly so they need a lot more energy for their size than most species. And they need enough protein and it needs to be the right types of protein in the right proportions.

They have relatively short, simple digestive systems. So they have limited capacity for feed... they don't have the margin for feed that doesn't give them enough energy or enough protein that many other species do.

 

[NatJ]

So besides layer feed what should I feed them ?

For adult laying hens, layer food and water should be all they need. (As much as they want of the food and the water.) Optional, you can put out a separate dish of oyster shell and a separate dish of grit (they usually self-regulate those just fine.)

The whole point of layer feed is to have everything a hen needs, except water, all neatly in one package.

Yes, many chickens do fine when they also have some amount of other things, but they do not NEED those other things. And if you give very much other food, you have to pay attention to whether you are properly balancing the various added things. Some people enjoy doing that, some people do not enjoy it. The chickens are fine as long as they have a properly balanced diet, whether that comes from just layer feed (easiest) or a combination of things.

 

[Sierra G]

I presume you mean hurt them? Yes. As Kiki said, they won’t have a complete diet. Along with them filling up on unhealthy and not nutritious food, which will make them not want to eat the feed specially formulated to meet their bodies needs. They may also become overweight, which causes a whole other multitude of problems.

Not to scare you, but probably the only reason they're still alive is that they don't have couch and a cable subscription.

 

[Drumstick63]

For adult laying hens, layer food and water should be all they need. (As much as they want of the food and the water.) Optional, you can put out a separate dish of oyster shell and a separate dish of grit (they usually self-regulate those just fine.)

The whole point of layer feed is to have everything a hen needs, except water, all neatly in one package.

Yes, many chickens do fine when they also have some amount of other things, but they do not NEED those other things. And if you give very much other food, you have to pay attention to whether you are properly balancing the various added things. Some people enjoy doing that, some people do not enjoy it. The chickens are fine as long as they have a properly balanced diet, whether that comes from just layer feed (easiest) or a combination of things.

Ok thank you, I have layer feed, water, grit and oyster always available. I guess I need to cut
out the daily veggie and fruits And maybe do them once a week ?? I go outside and they see me and expect there veggies and fruits everyday , they are going to hate me now haha

 

[NatJ]

Not to scare you, but probably the only reason they're still alive is that they don't have couch and a cable subscription.

I've had chickens with free-choice access to a compost pile with fruit/veggie/bugs/etc, and they did fine. Or free range on a grass lawn with some mulched ares to dig through. And plenty of table scraps, too. They all lived until they were butchered after a year or more of egg laying, except the few that were taken by predators. Many chickens are less stupid than we think, so they do manage to balance their diet pretty well, if given a chance. (Yes, my chickens always had free-choice access to an appropriate chicken food.)

It is certainly easiest to give them a balanced diet by just serving the correct purchased food, but it's not the only way to have healthy chickens.

 

[NatJ]

Ok thank you, I have layer feed, water, grit and oyster always available. I guess I need to cut
out the daily veggie and fruits And maybe do them once a week ?? I go outside and they see me and expect there veggies and fruits everyday , they are going to hate me now haha

It's really a matter of how you choose to do it.

Personally, I think the fruits and veggies would be fine (not required, but not harmful), but clearly other people disagree, so I don't know what would be best for you and your chickens.

If you want to give them a "treat" without worrying about the nutrition, you can get some of their normal chicken food wet. They usually love that!

 

[Drumstick63]

I've had chickens with free-choice access to a compost pile with fruit/veggie/bugs/etc, and they did fine. Or free range on a grass lawn with some mulched ares to dig through. And plenty of table scraps, too. They all lived until they were butchered after a year or more of egg laying, except the few that were taken by predators. Many chickens are less stupid than we think, so they do manage to balance their diet pretty well, if given a chance. (Yes, my chickens always had free-choice access to an appropriate chicken food.)

It is certainly easiest to give them a balanced diet by just serving the correct purchased food, but it's not the only way to have healthy chickens.

Mine aren’t free range so they don’t get any yard or compost or any of that. I’m still waiting for them and my dog to get used to each other more

 

[MommaHen1996]

Just a question...in the wild...par say....what would a chickens main diet contain? I feed mine fresh grass clippings and spinach in the mornings with their occasional watermelon...they eat they layer feed only if I throw it down with scratch and grit though.... and then every once in a while they get soldier worms

 

[Drumstick63]

It's really a matter of how you choose to do it.

Personally, I think the fruits and veggies would be fine (not required, but not harmful), but clearly other people disagree, so I don't know what would be best for you and your chickens.

If you want to give them a "treat" without worrying about the nutrition, you can get some of their normal chicken food wet. They usually love that!

I agree, many different views, I don’t see that what I give is even bad for them, it’s not scraps it’s farmers market produce , I didn’t realize it’s considered “treats” either