The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: little blue on March 04, 2011, 08:36:15 pm

Title: sugar beet shreds?
Post by: little blue on March 04, 2011, 08:36:15 pm

Can poultry occassionally eat shredded sugar beet??

it says on the bag suitable for eg fattening pigs & calves, improving milk yield in cattle, goats and good for ruminants....
so I thought perhaps it would help fatten up meat birds, and help layers particuarly coming out of moult.

I have the stuff that is soaked over night....
 ???    :chook:   

Title: Re: sugar beet shreds?
Post by: jaykay on March 04, 2011, 08:47:49 pm

The soaking was the only thing I thought about. Other than that I can't see why not - the crop ought to be able to grind it. Too much sugar might ferment lower down? Small amounts then? It's maybe more use to ruminants who can also digest the cellulose.

Title: Re: sugar beet shreds?
Post by: princesspiggy on March 05, 2011, 08:23:00 am

if u were trying to fatten them on soaked beet, i would think they wouldnt be able to eat enough by volume to put the weight on as it holds alot of water. if its just to supplement their diet,try it, but i dont think it tastes great soaked which is why soaked beet is mixed with other grains.
it would taste sweeter unsoaked but dont know if that would kill them?

Title: Re: sugar beet shreds?
Post by: little blue on March 05, 2011, 03:27:01 pm

I just wondered, as I have it for the pigs & goats as a supplement, and thought it could maybe bulk out the hens diet too.  particularly the non-layers (seems to have quite a few of those! but too skinny to eat them yet!)