[cudders]

Hi chaps,

Been feeding the chucks on scraps from the kitchen. Just wondered if there is anything they shouldn't have?

Can they have carrots, Brocc, cabbage, potato peelies etc etc?

Also can I give then fruits?

Cudders

[muntjac]

all greens etc except swede peelings  some dont like parsnips ,,no meat or fats or oily stuff ......white fish .is ok in moderation , the rest is comon sense n dont over do it  

[scara]

Cudders

I feed mine pears, apples and melon, not every day but as a treat and they seem to love it, doesn't seem to have done them any harm.

[Selkie]

mine love raw cauli or cabbage (i give them the base part with leaves attached)

they sometimes get carrots but the little red pieces seem to just pass through them undigested.

they sometimes get melon, pumpkin or squash too, and they like apple cores etc

[Selkie]

just curious, why shouldn't they get swede peelings? :?:

[cudders]

Thanks chaps.

So a few greens every day is ok and maybe fruits a couple of times a week?

Also regarding general feeding. Do I need to add grit to the mix? They get mash and corn daily and they seem to eat for England!

I have three suspended feeders and they can down a 25k sack of mash plus corn in just over a week! Should I reduce this?

Cudders

[muntjac]

how many birds have you got ? and thye need grit and oyster shell in seperate trays .

[cudders]

Got about 25 plus a cock, bit hard to count em!

So what is the shell for? Also how much of this are they likely to need? Do they pick at it? I think I've found a bucket with some in. I'll take a pic at the weekend. Seems a little big though. Also no sign of any shell or grit in the coop when I took over so need some guidance here.

Thanks for the help so far chaps.  

Cudders

[muntjac]

ok go to keeping chickens no sentiment in the chicken info section and this will give you any help with details ....

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=1688


that feed ratio does seem as if they are getting a little to much ... need to do my maths  :roll: check the feed info as well on oyster shell

[Aunt Sally]

just curious, why shouldn't they get swede peelings? :?:

 :shock: No idea - perhaps it makes them

[cudders]

Good read munty thanks.

Just to clear up the grit/shells...

Should I add this to food or leave out for them to peck at? Do they actually eat the shells? Also should I crush it fine or use as is?

Thanks,

Cudders

[muntjac]

no the shell you buy ,its called oestra ,and you dont touch it they will do what they need with it   make sure they have " poultry grit "

[Selkie]

hee hee i love how the other one falls over

[Fat Hen]

Cudders

I feed mine pears, apples and melon, not every day but as a treat and they seem to love it, doesn't seem to have done them any harm.

I seem to remember a vet on that programme that had Rolf Harris in, can't remember what it was called saying you shouldn't give apple cores to dogs cos the pips contained cyanide, I remember it cos I used to give apple cores to my dog (now stopped).

I know chickens ain't dogs however if true I am sure cyanide wouldn't do em a lot of good.  

Also the green bits on spuds contain a nasty toxin (rendered harmless by boiling), for humans not sure on affect on chucks.

[muntjac]

i had spuds growing  and thye never bothered them ,same as deadly nighshade .they will eat tomato's ripe but not the leaves