[tortzblue]

Hi - seems this is very contraversial but I'm sure I read somewhere it's OK to give them a little meat. After all, free ranging chooks eat slugs snails worms and all manner of creepy crawlies, even mice! So why I wonder can you not give them meat? Well chopped up and not smothered in salty sauces and spices what's the difference?

[tosca100]

Defra. You are not supposed to give them anything from the kitchen, I should imagine raw meat is a no-no.

[themagicaltoad1]

Mine are always trying to pinch the dogs food which has tinned meat in it, and if they are moulting I give them a mash with some fish flavoured cat food in it for extra protein.

[lmpd]

I would think it's a salmonella thing, but ours are the same, if I forget to shut the back door - they're in and barging the cat out of the way and nicking it's grub!!!

[ANHBUC]

As tosca100 says Defra regulations make it illegal due to Mad Cow Disease and the potential for cross contamination.   

[browntrouty]

Oh heck, I thought they could eat kitchen stuff if they're not for eating? As in pets? Mine eat all sorts, am worried now.

[rcf100]

Mhubby said he had a read of the Defra regs and you can give them veg, rice, bread & pasta, just nothing meat or meat derived. Is it possible the rules have changed or is my dear hubby wrong?

[joyfull]

please read this

[rcf100]

Sorry for hijacking!

See after posting this I looked at the Defra website and it is very confusing.  My hubby had assumed as long as it wasn't meat contaminated (we're veggies) then we're OK, but aparently not.

Does anyone know the rules on buying the cheapo about to go out of date and Tesco are selling for 10p rotten veg.  As long as not processed then surely an OK treat?

[ANHBUC]

As long as it hasn't been in your kitchen.  Having said that most people give their hens the veg peelings that have been in the kitchen! 

[andyoak]

Any veg from our veg patch that doesn't meet the grade so to speak goes straight to the chickens. Veg from the kitchen goes in the compost bin but then a few times I've had to fish hens out of the compost bin! As for meat there was a mouse nest under the coop, I moved the coop to clear it and the baby mice were gone in seconds. There were chickens running all over with mice hanging out of their beaks!

[Lardman]

There were chickens running all over with mice hanging out of their beaks!

I don't think you're a real chicken keeper until you've had your stomach turned by your lovely fluffy pets running around the garden playing tug of war with what's left of 1/2 a frog or mouse.

[Mrs Bee]

There were chickens running all over with mice hanging out of their beaks!

I don't think you're a real chicken keeper until you've had your stomach turned by your lovely fluffy pets running around the garden playing tug of war with what's left of 1/2 a frog or mouse.

Oh dear, I don't think I am a real chicken keeper then

Wouldn't turn my stomach tho', I am made of stern stuff

[Tony H]

Chucks do eat meat and i think just about anything  but UK and EU law is quite clear on kitchen wast, the rule was introjuced to stop farmers from feeding wast food which would include meat from being fed to to any livestock to prevent cross contamination of species, unfortuanatly the rules do include back garden livestock, although we all class our chucks as pets the law doesnt  I do get veg from supermarket and give as it comes to the chucks, as this isnt wast its food  the rules seem stupid but are there for the welfare of all animals 

[jhub]

Re: Defra
The rules also apply to baked and crushed egg shell.