Author Topic: sheep eating poulty layers pellets ... (Read 4847 times)

Backinwellies · « **on:** January 09, 2015, 11:11:42 am »

I have one ewe who keeps breaking into the hen enclosure and eating layers pellets .... is there likely to be anything in them bad for sheep?

Foobar · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2015, 11:46:56 am »

Yes ... probably the minerals - copper maybe? Might also cause bloat in some cases. Oh and there is a small chance that there are animal derivatives in the hen food. A wee nibble is probably okay but you don't want your sheep eating the chicken food for any length of time or in large amounts - secure your hen enclosure!

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2015, 02:10:22 pm »

I agree - poultry food is not good for sheep.

We had one Soay who could squeeze through the pop hole and ate quite a lot of hen pellets. She's still around though and seems fine. The pop hole has been reduced slightly in size so she can no longer get in

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2015, 04:57:50 pm »

Pig feed has a high copper content. Most likely problem is that she'll knock over the feeder, pig out and get bloat.

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2015, 06:23:38 pm »

We had the same issue. We put the chicken feeder in a corner of the field and put a length of pig/sheep wire around it. Just cut a small hole for the hens to get in. The sheep are Ryelands so can't be bothered to try to work it out ;-)

Backinwellies · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2015, 08:46:59 am »

Quote from: Marches Farmer on January 09, 2015, 04:57:50 pm

Pig feed has a high copper content. Most likely problem is that she'll knock over the feeder, pig out and get bloat.

where did pigs come from?

It is only a mouthful (she cant get in the shed where dustbin is and hens/ ducks don't have adlib) .... as for securing hen enclosure .... she just walks through the netting if gate is shut! .... real pain ..... just trying not to wreck another paddock by moving them just before they come in for lambing.

trish.farm · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2015, 04:50:13 pm »

Be careful that Animal Health don't visit you and see this. I had a spot check once to test all my animal feed as I have sheep, cows and chickens. The chicken food has to be kept in a totally different building to the sheep and cattle food. All my bins of sheep and cattle food had samples taken from them to check for contamination from chicken food. I think it was more the risk of cattle eating it as chicken food has animal products in it.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2015, 06:18:12 pm »

Quote from: Backinwellies on January 10, 2015, 08:46:59 am

Quote from: Marches Farmer on January 09, 2015, 04:57:50 pm
Pig feed has a high copper content. Most likely problem is that she'll knock over the feeder, pig out and get bloat.

where did pigs come from?

Pig feed has a high copper content and copper is toxic to sheep, especially Texels.