What waste organs can chickens eat?

[AChickenBoi]

I’m thinking of raising meat rabbits, but I wouldn’t want any part of the body going to waste if I can help it. I also have pet chickens that are not picky when it comes to meaty foods. Can I throw the organs we normally wouldn’t eat to the flock? Would raw be fine, or would it be better if I cooked it first?

If rabbit organs are better off being used for something else or just in moderation, what else could I do with the waste? The bones/organs? I’ve heard that dog owners freeze dry the ears as dog treats. Would ground rabbit organs and other waste make a good cat food for the strays? (We have a lot of stray cats in the neighborhood, and I’d much rather prefer them eating harvested rabbit and not my flock of pet chickens). Any advice would be great!

 

[SmiYa0126]

You can totally cook and feed your chickens the organs. Freeze and cook once a week for them in the winter. Serve warm, super nourishing!

 

[Sally PB]

Use the bones to make bone broth. I've never used rabbit bones, so if someone knows that they should NOT be used, please speak up.

 

[SmiYa0126]

100% use bones for bone broth!

 

[nuthatched]

Use the bones to make bone broth. I've never used rabbit bones, so if someone knows that they should NOT be used, please speak up.

100% use bones for bone broth!

Aka stock. What herbs do you use so it doesn't taste do rabbity?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Onion, garlic and your favorite herbs

 

[glib]

rannit bones do not taste rabbity at all. they taste like bones.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

If you cook the bones long enough, they get soft and then you could feed them to the flock as well.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can I throw the organs we normally wouldn’t eat to the flock?

I would.

Would raw be fine, or would it be better if I cooked it first?

When my chickens catch mice, frogs, and small snakes they do not cook them before they eat them. When I catch rabbits in my garden or certain critters like raccoons, rats, or possums I cut them open so the chickens can get to the insides and let them have at it. I don't cook it first. I do remove what's left of the carcass before dark and dispose of it so it doesn't attract predators. When I butcher chickens I have one bucket for the stuff that I
I bury in my garden where the coyotes or dogs can't get to it to dig it up. I have a second bucket for the bits that I'll feed back to the surviving chickens. I don't cook that.

I see no reason that you'd need to cook them. They are eating those organs, not you.

 

[Sally PB]

If you cook the bones long enough, they get soft and then you could feed them to the flock as well.

When I make bone broth, I strain it through a colander. The bones I can mash with my fingers are "done." The ones I can't, go back into a bag to be saved for the next batch of bone broth.

The done bones and the mushy veg end up as chickie snack. They love that stuff! I have learned to parcel that out and not give them too much all at once. I've seen some loose poops the next day when they have a lot of it.