What is the healthiest food you can give chickens?

[jjthink]

In addition to their regular feed (game bird maintenance [for roo but hen prefers this too], layer) and oyster shell for the lady available 24/7, they get Avia Charge 2000 in their water, ACV periodically in their water instead of Avia, organic blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, apples and tomatoes, icy watermelon or cantelope when it's real hot, great bird seed mixes heavy on black oil sunflower seed, yogurt, grain bread awash with olive oil, a bit of scratch, and free range time to select whatever bugs and plants they wish. Boy are they happy feather-spirits, jumping up and down with joy when they see one of their favorites headed their way!!
JJ

 

[jjthink]

Re: the bread questions, I only give a small amount (maybe 10 pencil eraser sized pieces each) mixed with olive oil once a week or so, because the salt content in most breads is kind of high for birds. A bit more than that is probably okay....but since my feathered friends get such a variety of things, I keep a lid on the quantity of anything salty.
JJ

 

[jafo]

We give our chickens berry flavored yogurt. 6 Orps, 1 small whatever size it is container and they love it!

 

[Tonopah Pati]

I was always told that if you live in a hot area like AZ. Do not feed corn in the summer as corn creates heat and the birds are hot already. When temps. cool down go back to what ever corn that you were feeding. I spoke with a Lady who has 35 years of raising chickens in the desert. She mixes 1 bag scratch with 2 bags crumbles. She also uses 1 Tab. Apple Cider vinegar to the drinking water ( use plastic ) she advised, to do that to all pet water.

 

[Tonopah Pati]

I give my flock about 1 Tablespoon per bird of yogurt, I purchase Fry's Brand, cost around $5.00, It also has a long shelf life. They love it with Meal Worms mixed in.

I did give my birds lots of left over bread. I found out from the Forum that a lot is not good for them, so I stopped doing that

 

[Whirlwind]

About the bread questions: I give mine bread as a treat. They love it. But they will only eat so much and then wander off. I think most chickens do not over eat and they won't eat what is bad for them. Mine don't anyway. I have a tree with lots of mistletoe in it. It falls in the run and outside when they are out. They peck at the berries ( very poisionous) But will not eat them.
They eat certain bugs but leave others alone. Nature made them smart about what to eat. I feed mine some scratch all year. We just had 10 days in a row over 100. I think natural things are the best for them tho.

 

[Tonopah Pati]

I agree with you wirlwind about the Bread thing, I mixed my scratch with the crumbles. When the temp says below 100 I will throw it down in the pen for them to scratch. I also give them COLD veggies all kinds, raw and cooked. the oatmeal and rice cold in summer for sure. Different fruit what ever is in season. They love cold grapes and strawberries. You get the picture. If they get their fill they will leave it, go back later and eat at it until it is gone. Smart Girls/Boys.

 

[flockoffour]

wait no scrath if the temps over 90? why is that? I used to give mine oatmeal cuz i read they love it and they did, but lately ive been giving them 99cent store oatmeal and its been aroun 110 degrees they dont care for the oatmeal anymore, is this because of the heat? do they not like cheap oatmeal? or are they just tired of it?

as for a treat I give mine fresh corn i pull the kernels off the cobb they go crazy its their favorite treat i think, and that doesnt make much sense to me lol

Oatmeal can have a decent amount of protein (depending on the brand) and their body works harder to turn protein into urea, and this heats them up more, and raises their body temperature, and this is the last thing you want to happen on a hot day. If you do give extra proteins even when its hot, try to do it at least two or so hours before the extreme heat of the day, as it takes them about two hours to digest their food. Watermelon or other fruits with electrolytes tends help keep them cool. Mine also seemed to get tired of their oatmeal, by the way. Mabey try mixing it with a little bit of water and/or fruit or something, I tried that and they seem to like it again now.