Would fish skin (scales) be a good source of protein for my hens?

[Gyoza]

Would fish skin (scales) be a good source of protein for my hens? Should I boil or bake the skins or just raw?

Thank you

 

[AquaEyes]

Are you talking about the skins with the scales, or just the flaked off scales?

If they're fresh, raw is fine. If in doubt, steam them. However, be aware that they can affect the taste of eggs laid by the hens who eat them. If they're not laying, or if they are laying but they are your breeders and you won't be eating the eggs, go ahead.

 

[Gyoza]

Fresh. I fish for salmon a good 6 months of the year. I use discards after filleting salmon for prawning and crabbing but still have lots leftovers. Is fishy taste very obvious in eggs? I'm planning to sell the eggs at the local farmers market.

 

[CluckyJay]

I feed my hens a ton of fresh rockfish, trout, and walleye. So far, it hasn't made their eggs fishy-tasting. They get it raw and will eat some of the skin. The scales do not get eaten. My cats will eat the skin with some scales intact though!

After feeding the fish for a while, the roosters feathers were so glossy it looked like you poured oil on them. :O

I should add, I have to cut the fish into chunks so the chickens can get past the hard scales to the meat. I also pop the eyeballs out and they gobble those up whole.

 

[Gyoza]

That's good news. Thank you

 

[AquaEyes]

Yes, thanks for clearing that up. I was repeating what I've read, but I'm glad someone who tried it replied.

 

[CluckyJay]

If you wanted to make lots of fish and freeze it for later, you could always put it in some sort of grinder before packaging it. I think I already posted that somewhere, I forget, lol.