The Poultry Keeper

Bendix01 · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:03 am Post subject: Meat eaters or veggies?

I found this quote on the site below which was interesting. Thoughts?

The box also boasts that the hens are ‘fed on a natural vegetarian cereal diet’. Well, actually guys, hens are not by nature vegetarian. Originating from Red Jungle Fowl, they love to munch on grubs, worms and insects to supplement a diet of seeds, berries and grit. They need animal-based foods to get the full range of nutrients, so an all-vegetarian cereal diet may not give them what they need.

http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/latest_scrambled_eggs_jan05.htm

fluffly_fifer · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 411 Location: Fife, Scotland

Although I feed layers pellets I did see the suspicious signs of an empty snail shell the other day in the run and I'm not averse to feeding the odd worm & any slug I find to them. Rolling Eyes

Lette · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 13

It makes you wonder who they are trying to win over. Are there really vegetarians out there who won't eat chicken eggs because they are produced by meat-eating birds?

Our girls will try to eat anything that moves within pecking distance. Nothing that crawls, flies or slithers near them is safe.

Bendix01 · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 2:27 pm Post subject:

Got to agree. Tried them on some bird balls (mixed with thier warmed veggy mash) made of lard and seeds and they went nutso over it. My boy gave them corn and rice with tuna in by mistake yesterday and they lost it over that too. As they are scavengers by nature I suppose they would have eaten anything, as you say, that is within pecking distance dead or alive.

CP · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject:

I have seen mine arguing over the remains of dead frogs & mice even! Shocked

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

Yep - you should see my chickens go when I move the chicken houses and there are mice underneath! Rolling Eyes

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, didn't know that! Perhaps they can help sort out the mice problem in my barn!

Bhindi · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject:

I wreckon they probably just mean that they havent been fed any offal and such like, people might not be too smitten to know that they feed chicken to chickens

fenwoman · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:35 am Post subject:

IIRC it is illegal to feed chickens on meat or meat byproducts so the feed would not be allowed to contain that.

poultry poofs · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 2:04 am Post subject:

Chickens as you say are not vegetarians - they can eat what they like out in the range of a natural nature beetles worms etc.
As fenwoman pointed out it is strictly illegal to feed meat ot meat derivatives to chickens either directly or indirectly in pre-prepared feed.
Poultry pellets used to contain animal fats and rendered bone but it is against the law to include it in feedstuff now.
It is also illegal to feed kitchen waste -especially cooked meal slops- to them that may contain meat or meat products.
Not many people are aware you are not allowed to dispose of such material into your compost bin either Shocked

seems a bit harsh but it was decided after the BSE fiasco that all such material must not get into the food chain of domestic farm animals or poultry.

chicken_house_man · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Brynmawr

Mine discovered frogs - it's more run than worms as only two can play with a worm. Frogs area 4 way tug-o-war!

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

As stated, chickens are scavengers and will eat just about anything, that is why it is wise to worm them every 3-4 months because of the parasites they consume.They love fish and it is good for them especially during the moult, feed it every other day if possible with their normal feed.Canned Tuna or Salmon is good and they also like canned Jack Mackerel.

poultry poofs · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

poultry poofs
What can`t you do in the European Union--I`m not following you.Are you referring to the worming?

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London