The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bigchicken on December 21, 2013, 11:27:12 am
-
Talking to a chap the other day and he mentioned that he feds a bit of cat food to his show birds is this a usual thing and does anyone else use unusual feeds.
-
I can't be certain but I thought feeding chickens meat products was now forbidden under Defra regulations and has been for quite some time? Something to do with the food chain cross infection? I have heard of it being done before and also a very tiny amount of raw minced beef given during the moult. Not something we have ever done. I have also heard that using fish cat food gives the eggs a fishy taste -can't confirm that either. We stick to proper diets with treats of fresh greens and our eggs taste fantastic (not just my opinion).
-
can't say re the legality of it (but seeing as we can't feed kitchen scraps I would think it isn't) but yes, people do to give the hens a protein boost. with a hen that kept getting egg bound last year, I gave some mealworms (extra protein and calcium) and then someone recommended cod liver oil-as the bit D in it enhances calcium uptake. didn't notice any fishy taste (they all had it in that pen).I have been known to give some extra protein by way of tuna during the moult-they aren't laying by that point anyway.
-
The last thing you need to give poultry is tinned cat food. God alone knows what's in it.
If you need to boost vigour and protein give them a small portion of minced beef.
It doesn't matter if there's section a,b or c in it.
-
see, I'd have thought cat food was 'better' than dog food because they really load dog food (especially cheaper stuff like chappie) with cheap, low quality carbs-and if you are therefore wanting protein, you might not be giving them as much as you think. I personally wouldn't give either! but don't see a big problem in lean, high quality pure protein every so often, especially at those times of year when there aren't a lot of insects about.
-
Why would you want to cross species feed anyway ? :rant: They eat worms and insects, and should be fed either growers or layers pellets which are scientifically balanced. Extras such as cereals or honey can be fed, neither of which would interfere with the food chain to humans. I will never knowingly eat chicken that has eaten dog or cat food, or meat from other animals. :rant:
-
Would never feed cat or dog food though my hens eat loads of worms from the dung heap.
Regarding 'fishy' taste or not as the case might be.
I feed grains mixed with a small dollope of cod liver oil plus poultry spice - never had a fishy taste to the eggs.
To get them all into the pens at night - they free range over the paddocks so sometimes need to be encouraged to come in.... they get frozen peas (defrosted - sometimes cooked in the micro if I'm in a hurry). They come a running from all corners of the fields when they see the yellow butter container in my hand.
Also as a treat in the winter they get dried meal worms, a good source of protein especially if I get a poorly hen.
I've been told they're the best eggs around here :-J :-J
-
the cat food thing I've only heard used in show birds. I think some on here might query the 'they should only be fed growers or layers'. yes they provide a balanced diet but many people successfully use other diets or make up their own? (I don't btw, because I can't be bothered).
-
wouldn't a tin of tuna/salmon be more economical than cat food if its fed for the protein / oil content?
I personally think wet cat food is full of cr*p. stick to simple ingredients. mealworms would be ace. even your own worm farm maybe - judging my how much mine have enjoyed garden worms.
how much protein does a worm have anyway??? eugh
-
I would rather they ate a natural diet than anything processed and as mine are free ranging they eat plenty insects and worms so if I wanted to add to their layers and corn staples I'd go with other bird food type protein, mealworms, extra kinds of seeds, grains and nuts, or dig over a patch of soil so they can DIY. Things like rice, peas, porridge are all made from that kind of source, not kitchen scraps but prepared specifically for them and that would be the furthest extent I'd go from raw natural sources.
I wouldn't feed cow or fish to a hen and not just because I'm vegetarian and don't have such things in my kitchen, as if I believed it was right then I'd be buying it in for them the way I would for a cat or dog, but cats and dogs are predators and carnivores, hens are foragers and I reckon the most appropriate is to stay with what their system is designed to digest.
-
They eat everything, mine definitely eat any bits of animals that the dog or cat leave laying about. Several times I have seen hens catching and eating frog. I don't think it is permitted, but I doubt cat food would do them Much harm, I think I have a post on here recommending to feed it to a poorly hen. I've read about sour crop, think I read that meat can bring this on? But have never seen this condition.
Years ago, my dad would have a kipper every Sunday morning, hens went mad over the bones and skin and ate the lot! Never any problems.
-
I kind of see where he is coming from, his birds are penned in preparation for shows and have no access to worms ect so cat meat is a quick cheep fix. I would go down the meal worm etc road myself. I have no doubt that protein in the form of meat is a part of my bantams diet, when they see a mouse it's attacked and pecked to death and partially eaten. Terradactiles or what.