What do you call treats?

[Michigan Chickman]

I need some guidance. I'm new to chickens this year. I have 34 RIRs (31 pullets/hens & 3 roos). I have a large run, 50x30, which is now turned into a lunar like barren surface. I'm concerned that I've giving them too many treats, but then I'm not sure what I'm classifying as a treat is really a treat and not just good nutritional supplement. I use a large gravity feeder and feed layer mash from a local mill.

Here's today's menu:

1 head of cabbage from the garden
2 zucchini from the garden
3-4 small apples
6-7 cucumbers from the garden
1 large handful of tall weeds
2 old biscuits

Wow, when I put it in writing it seems like a ton! There are a lot of birds and no one individual gets much of anything.

So, are the veggies just good supplement or am I looking at this all crazy?

Thanks for your help!

 

[fullhouse]

I only would count the bread as treats myself.

 

[keljonma]

We think of a treat as anything other than their feed. We feed layer and flockraiser feed. Moderation, we think, is the key. So a little every day won't hurt, but a treat should not be the main source of their nutrition. Everytime you add or subtract something, think about how it effects the amount of protein the flock is geting.

But at our house the question is.... are these ..... (apples, grapes, berries) okay to eat, or are they for the chickens?

Edited to add: our flock forages our acreage from sunup to sundown, too.

 

[sunnydee]

Im pretty new to this, but for 34 chickens I think you are right on track. My girls are 12 weeks old and I have only 6 of them. They have grower feed and water of course and they had the following today:

1 cup of cooked warm oatmeal this morning.
A handful of blackberries
2 ears of cooked corn on the cob
and about 2 hours of free range from their barren run.

They love to free range and go by my pond and eat lots and lots of grass. Their favorite is dandelion greens!

 

[Michigan Chickman]

Mine love dandylions greens too Sunnydee! I wish I could train them to only eat the dandylions, I'd make millions in the lawn care biz

 

[gritsar]

You don't mention the age of your chickens, but until they are fully grown it's best that treats remain an occasional thing, in addition to their grower feed. It's nutrionally balanced to help them develop into strong healthy adults.

 

[Michigan Chickman]

They are 20 weeks and seem to be in great shape.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
At 20 weeks what you listed you gave them today is fine, with one exception, no protein. Make sure they aren't filling up so much on those fruits and veggies that they don't have room for the protein. That's what they need their feed for.

 

[Mahonri]

20 weeks... any eggs yet?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I fry eggs and mix in rolled oats for my hens. OH THEY LOVE THIS! I still would not consider this a treat tho.