Too much veggies and fruits?

[Primicum Bavaricum]

It's perfectly fine for them.
I feed all of my adult birds a crumble type feed.

Actually va crumble or pellet feed is much better than a whole grain type feed.

Thank you. I am giving it to them for the last 3 days. They do hesitate a little. But they will get used to it. I am sure.

 

[beccaWA]

I'm sorry. Not trying to be a pest. I bought a bag of so-called " crumble" feed. My chicks were born ( 3 of them) late Oct. '20 and 1 of them Sept. '20. Can I give them this feed? I saw some video on line when I was doing some research about fermenting for chicken that feeding this to chicken also. Or is this crumble feed only for baby chicks?

Check to see what the bag says. Usually crumble is a layer feed, and yours are too young for that (too much calcium in the feed). Keep them on chick feed until they start laying, then you can switch to layer feed. Another alternative is to feed "all flock" and supplement oyster shell on the side once they start laying. You don't need to do that as you only have hens. If you have a mixed flock (roosters, ducks, geese) then all flock is good.

 

[NatJ]

Check to see what the bag says.

Always a good idea to do that!

Usually crumble is a layer feed, and yours are too young for that (too much calcium in the feed). Keep them on chick feed until they start laying

"Crumble" is just a texture. Every time I've bought chick feed, it was crumble.

I've seen layer feed as crumble or pellets.

I agree, layer feed (contains more calcium than chick starter) is meant for laying hens, not for growing chicks.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

Check to see what the bag says. Usually crumble is a layer feed, and yours are too young for that (too much calcium in the feed). Keep them on chick feed until they start laying, then you can switch to layer feed. Another alternative is to feed "all flock" and supplement oyster shell on the side once they start laying. You don't need to do that as you only have hens. If you have a mixed flock (roosters, ducks, geese) then all flock is good.

Thank you. Will do.

 

[Sally PB]

My chickens go nuts for their food as a warm mash. It's a great way to use up the little bits and dust left at the bottom of their bowl. (I feed 20% protein all flock pellets.) It's the same thing as their regular feed, but they go for it like it's candy. Anything extra, ie, treats, I put on top of this.

These are things I give as "ok once a day" treats: greens of any kind, tiny bits of fruit or vegetables.

These are things I give as "once or twice a week" treats: melon or squash guts, including the seeds.

Black oil sunflower seeds ("BOSS") or meal worms are no more than once a week, and tossed out so they have to scratch for them. It's entertainment as much as food. About 1 tablespoon per bird.

Very seldom do I give them bread as a treat. That's an "interactive" treat, ie, they have to get on my lap for a morsel. About half a slice total for the four of them.

I aim for the 10% guideline as well, for anything except the mash.

 

[Primicum Bavaricum]

My chickens go nuts for their food as a warm mash. It's a great way to use up the little bits and dust left at the bottom of their bowl. (I feed 20% protein all flock pellets.) It's the same thing as their regular feed, but they go for it like it's candy. Anything extra, ie, treats, I put on top of this.

These are things I give as "ok once a day" treats: greens of any kind, tiny bits of fruit or vegetables.

These are things I give as "once or twice a week" treats: melon or squash guts, including the seeds.

Black oil sunflower seeds ("BOSS") or meal worms are no more than once a week, and tossed out so they have to scratch for them. It's entertainment as much as food. About 1 tablespoon per bird.

Very seldom do I give them bread as a treat. That's an "interactive" treat, ie, they have to get on my lap for a morsel. About half a slice total for the four of them.

I aim for the 10% guideline as well, for anything except the mash.

Thank you for this great advice. Now. I used to breed exotic birds and bread was a big no no for birds in general. With chicken, I read such a mixed message. Some sources say it is ok to feed them bread like you do and some say no. If so. What kind of bread is good and which one isn't? I am European. I only have rye and dark bread in our house. None of that white bleached bread. Is that ok to give? I would assume that would be healthier than that white stuff? ( Sorry, no offense, but I am not a huge fan of those factory breads. )

 

[RedneckUrbanFarmer]

Thank you for this great advice. Now. I used to breed exotic birds and bread was a big no no for birds in general. With chicken, I read such a mixed message. Some sources say it is ok to feed them bread like you do and some say no. If so. What kind of bread is good and which one isn't? I am European. I only have rye and dark bread in our house. None of that white bleached bread. Is that ok to give? I would assume that would be healthier than that white stuff? ( Sorry, no offense, but I am not a huge fan of those factory breads. )

I have nothing to contribute to this thread, but I wholeheartedly agree with you on those bleached flour white breads. So tasteless and blah.

 

[EverV]

I agree with @PioneerChicks here, in that I don't fully count greenstuffs as treats. I think a small bowl of veggies like kale and lettuce with a piece or two of fruit chopped up too every other day or so would be fine, if not healthy. I know I shouldn't, but I give my four girls half a medicine cup worth of oatmeal with some greenery nearly every day . Fermenting their feed can be a treat too!

 

[kelzey]

i personally only give treats to my chooks on the weekends, and even then it’s a small amount before they are put in for the night so that i know they fill up on their proper feed during the day!

well, to be honest- they do get a couple of mealworms in the morning when i let them out, but that’s purely because if i don’t give them that, they will yell at me and stare at the cupboard in the coop (where i keep the mealies) until i give in and throw some on the ground.

 

[Sally PB]

Bread of any kind just doesn't have much -- if any -- nutrition for chickens. Try to tell them that! They LOVE it! My stand offish birds will get on my lap for a morsel of bread.

So, yeah, white tasteless, pasty, mass produced bread is junk. High quality rye, whole wheat, dark, tasty, bread is still... just bread for chickens. In other words, no better.

Here's the thing. Chickens, unlike people and most other mammals, eat until they're full. Ideally, they should be full of what is most healthy and nutritious for them to eat, and that is their feed. Giving them treats is more for us than for them, even though they sure do enjoy the treats. (I'm not talking about the veg/greens/fruit treats here.)

Before I went gluten free, oh, my did I love a good dark chewy bread. Miss it, a lot.