when you say cat food ...

[cposz]

do you mean DRY cat food??

Our 2 older hens (2 years old) have been molting - one has finally emerged gorgeously from her molt with beautiful new feathers. The other one, whose molt started a little later, is still in the throes of her molt. I have read lots of times here that a little cat food will boost their protein and could hasten them through molting a little. Soooo - we've got a cat, we've got a bag of Purina Cat Chow ... should I throw a little out there for them?

We also have some soft food - is THAT what is recommended?

Dry cat food or soft? Any advice?

 

[cposz]

anyone???

 

[HEChicken]

I only feed my pets dry food and I've occasionally given the chooks a little dog or cat food (dry) but I'm not sure if this is standard or if most people mean canned food. Sorry....

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

As a snack, and a proteing boost, I toss a handful of kitten chow to my girls every now and then. I use the kitten chow because its a smaller size kibble, which my Silkies can handle better. At 40% protein, its a cheap source.

I have added leftover can catfood to their morning "porridge"; thats just a big pot of warm leftovers mixed together to get something warm in their tummy's on freezing mornings.

 

[bethandjoeync]

hmmm this is a great idea! I may have to toss in a handfull of catfood to get them a booster of protein.

 

[lemurchaser]

Just remember to not put a whole bunch out. It has too much salt for chickens and isn't a balanced diet for them.

A handful here and there is fine though.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

only dry

 

[Warthog]

I have given my hens both dry and canned cat food, but they only get a little bit, what the cats have left. If I give them the dry cat food, I usually put some water on it fist to make it a bit softer for them.

 

[Tamrajh]

When I tried to feed my girls cat food they picked a piece up and promptly spit it out. All of them. Did I buy the wrong brand or do my girls know they're not cats?

 

[gryeyes]

My chickens don't like my dry cat food, and it's a premium brand, not generic or branded grocery store kibble.

However, the DUCKS love it.

I just give a handful of it about once a week.

But I toss 'em BOSS every day, and throw out oyster shell into the run a couple of times a week (in addition to the free feeding cup in the coop).

I give 'em a head of cabbage in TetherCabbage every week, too. And some other treats, but that's off topic. I just didn't want y'all to think I ONLY treated 'em with BOSS or dry cat food.