[warrenlovinmama]

Hi, we have 4 chooks and we only eat the eggs ourselves but I was wondering as I have only had them 4wks, what household scraps are good for them, what to avoid giving them and how to give it? i.e. should it all be chopped, mashed, cooked or raw.

They love ripe tomatoes and grapes but not sure if they are good for them. We also blended our sunday roast veggies and potatoes that were left over with a bit of gravy and the chooks went nuts for it but I just worry that I don't want to give them anything that may harm them. Also should peelings be chopped smaller or are they ok with them as they are?

[kegs]

It's a difficult subject because it's actually illegal to feed kitchen scraps to your chickens as this thread will explain...

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=81310.0

[Helenaj]

If you have to feed them scraps from the kitchen (and let's face it, most of us do!), avoid any scraps that have meat products or juices in (like gravy!).

[Lindeggs]

Fortunately I live in NZ so the no-scrap laws don't apply to me!  So I can tell you what I do (although of course I can't advise you to do the same). 

I feed my chickens anything I would be prepared to eat myself.  So I would never feed them green potatoes, or mouldy food, or food that was spoiled in any other way.  If I'm feeding potato peelings or pumpkin pieces I cook them, but anything I like to eat raw, I will give to my chickens raw (eg fruit, salad leaves, etc).

Sometimes I've had to try foods out several times before the chickens got a taste for them.  For example at first they didn't like apple but now they love it.  My chickens refuse carrot (cooked or raw) but I know others who gobble it down.

Personally I don't eat meat and don't feed it to my chickens, but I know others in NZ who throw cooked bones to their chickens and let them peck them clean. 

But beware of too much salt!  Bacon bones and corned beef are off the menu.

I hope you enjoyed my little story about how it's done in New Zealand.

[warrenlovinmama]

Thank you for all the replies. I was truly shocked about the laws. Before I bought the chooks I went to library and took out two books to find out all the basics but both books were printed before the new laws and both said to give scraps. You learn something new every day!

[Sassy]

As mentioned do watch out for salt in their food ie the gravy.

You can of course give them food from veg garden/allotments as long as it hasn't been in your kitchen. Maybe you need an outside preparation area

[Lindeggs]

Oooh!  It would be a great excuse to get an outdoor barbecue/pizza oven!  Of course you must do it - it's for the good of the chickens!