Treats during the winter

[farmgirl1995]

So it gets pretty cold here in the mountains of Georgia. I'd like some suggestions for some warm treats to make them all cozy this winter Also, its ok to feed roosters layer feed, right?

 

[Tiramisu]

Suet, cooked egg or cooked oatmeal. Corn helps to keep them warm too.

 

[33yardbirds]

Their evening treat in warm weather is BOSS and in the morning they get scratch and BOSS. In winter it will be a 50/50 mix morning and evening. My wife is a old hand at horses and is a firm believer that corn makes heat, I have to listen to her on that.

 

[Judy]

I used to have a link to some research on the old tale that corn makes heat. It doesn't, not any more than any other food, though of course eating does cause the body to produce some heat.

People feed roosters layer feed all the time. People who specifically raise roosters will tell you they do better on a different feed, a bit higher in protein and with less calcium, but there are millions of roosters who live out their lives on layer feed.

 

[farmgirl1995]

Hmm, I tried corn last year and of course they liked it but I don't know how much good it did. Can't hurt though And alright, they seem to be fine with it as well

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If you give chickens a less processed grain, it takes longer to digest it than a chicken feed that is formed from finely ground grain. On long winter nights, I wonder if that is why people have traditionally fed scratch grains at night, to fuel the chickens longer through the night. In extreme cold, don't people eat and burn more carbs, rather than extra protein? I think that may be another reason people have traditionally fed scratch at night, in the winter.

 

[farmgirl1995]

I suppose so. That seems to make sense

 

[woodmort]

The only time I feed scratch is in the winter--I don't know about corn producing heat but it does help build fat which keeps the birds warm. As far as layer and roosters, you're probably too young to remember "Lay or Bust" feed--I think it was produced by Ralston-Purina. Their ads showed arooster exploding from eating it.

 

[Glenbogel06]

I give my flock hot oat meal, with some milk or yogurt mixed in. They love it!

 

[farmgirl1995]

Quote:
Never heard of it. :O ! Why did the rooster explode??