What your chickens can and can't eat!

[ChickyWhicky]

Try telling my ole' biddies they cant have french fries.......

 

[saysfaa]

DONT COOK THE MICE! THATS NASTY!!

That's kind of a blanket statement... I mean rotisserie over an open campfire with a special person on a starry night is still a stern... NO?

Well, I think so too. But if raw mouse is okay, what is the problem with raw meat of other species?

 

[saysfaa]

Also, even the things that maybe shouldn't be eaten - like tomato leaves- might have only certain times that they shouldn't be or the variety might matter. Mine happily ate a really lot of volunteer tomato seedlings for a few weeks. Then stopped eating them.

Some chefs use them for flavor in recipes for people. Evidently people need to eat a pound and a half to get a poisoning effect.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Well, I think so too. But if raw mouse is okay, what is the problem with raw meat of other species?

My guess is the preservatives in store meat? I give kine raw meat as treats though

Also, even the things that maybe shouldn't be eaten - like tomato leaves- might have only certain times that they shouldn't be or the variety might matter. Mine happily ate a really lot of volunteer tomato seedlings for a few weeks. Then stopped eating them.

Some chefs use them for flavor in recipes for people. Evidently people need to eat a pound and a half to get a poisoning effect.

I had a pullet that just gobbled down tomato leaves. Didn't care about the fruit, but she would not stop plucking leaves off the plant whenever she had the chance

 

[saysfaa]

What preservatives in raw meat from the store?

Besides, there are butcher shops and butchering one's own.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Avoid fat, only feed cooked scraps, and only in moderation

With single digit temps and lower now you don't want to avoid some fat. Just like bird suet cakes some fat/high calorie feed helps get them through the low temperatures.

Why isn't processed layer feed on the list? It also shouldn't be fed as the only source of food.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

What preservatives in raw meat from the store?

Besides, there are butcher shops and butchering one's own.

Some places use artificial coloring last I knew, especially in fish like salmon to make it look more appetizing.

It also shouldn't be fed as the only source of food.

It's a complete ration.

 

[Insnesnakos]

All bugs if my cat doesn't eat them first!

I put bugs I catch in a clear plastic cup and they peck it thinking they can eat it

 

[NatJ]

Well, I think so too. But if raw mouse is okay, what is the problem with raw meat of other species?

Probably human hang-ups, if I had to guess.

Freshness could sometimes be a difference: if the chickens catch the mouse and eat it immediately, as compared with meat that is killed, transported, stored, sold, etc. But if the meat is stored safely (correct temperature, etc) I don't think it would be a big deal. And not all meat is transported and stored (like if someone is butchering another animal that day, any bits they give to the chickens would be just as fresh as a mouse the chickens might catch.)

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

I put bugs I catch in a clear plastic cup and they peck it thinking they can eat it

Only chickens! lol