feeding chickens

[manicscousers]

as some of you know, we have communal chickens, somebody has fed them week old bacon that was left in the shed, cut into strips..I was told it wasn't 'off', is this ok, I'm panicking in case it makes them sick  ???

[manicscousers]

[kt.]

As far as I am aware, you are not supposed to feed meat to hens.  But I am not 100%,  mine certainly don't.  Not really something I would feed my hens.  I know some people feed their hens every bit of scrap going but not every bit of scrap food is suitable though.  What about making a laminated sign as to what they may / may not be fed to prevent mistakes happening in the future? 

[manicscousers]

yes, I may have to, trouble is, this person has experience with chickens, we don't  :-\

[betula]

By coincidence ,the person in front of me  this morning at the butchers asked for scrap bacon for his chickens:) :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

They're quite predatory, so I can see them appreciating a bit of red meat now and then. Not that I'd waste bacon on them, it's a rare treat these days, since I married a Muslim.

[hippydave]

i used to feed my hens with scraps of meat especially the rind off the bacon, they scrat about and eat insects and worms so i couldn't see the harm it would do them. and they were always healthy.

[teresa]

KT is right your not ment to feed meat to chickens,
but this is a goverment thing,  they thought doing so spread the chicken flu, a load of twaddle. The gov and EU seem to think hens are vedg's and they are not. >:(

Hens like meat, go into the run with a scratch on your arm and watch them peck at it or like I did put red nail varnish on my toes and went into the run with sandles they went mad for my toes. I did not stay long. :'(

I would say cooked meat is better than raw, if you have hens moulting a tin of good dog/cat food mixed in with food is a protine boost for them also good for sick hens. You did not hear it from me its also ilegal but health of hens comes before the goverment. :P

[OllieC]

I just fed mine a couple of bits of raw rind off some streaky - they loved it! It's the first time I've seen them get this excited! Can't see that it's any different to eating worms & neither could they!

[shaun01]

the trouble with bacon it has a lot of salt content i would not feed it to my hens .how ever i do give them cat food every now and then fish flavour i must add not chicken but hens are tuff as old boots and i cant see it doing any harm as long as they are not eating the stuff every day

[Hyacinth]

I was having sunday lunch with a friend once who kept hens and ducks, both for eggs and for eating. Chicken carved and on the counter in the kitchen & one of her hens hopped up onto the top of the bottom part of the open stable door to the kitchen, then onto the work surface and indulged with seemingly great relish in a spot of cannibalism ::)