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Feeding Your Chickens Kitchen Scraps
Not only can they reduce the amount of professional, expensive feed that your chickens consume, but kitchen scraps can make up for whatever nutrients your chickens are lacking and make their diet more diverse. From vegetable peels to fruit cuttings, kitchen scraps can act as tasty treats and give your chickens a vitamin boost. Some insist that hens fed kitchen scraps lay better, and others say that meat-birds also fed such scraps have a better flavor than their commercial-fed counterparts. If these claims are true or not has not been determined, but one thing is for sure. Kitchen scraps are a definite plus when it comes to feeding your flock.
If kitchen scraps are so terrific, then why do many farmers hold back the leftovers from the sink? There are many reasons for this, although some are unfounded. Hens that are feed only kitchen scraps will noticeably suffer and may stop laying. The same is true for meat-birds, whose growth rate depends mainly on protein (which, usually, is not found in kitchen scraps). So remember, kitchen scraps are good only when fed as a supplement to a balanced feed ration. If fed in surplus, kitchen scraps can be detrimental to your flock's overall well being.
What can you feed your chickens? Almost anything, but always use good judgment. Some of the things that you can feed your flock includes vegetable peelings, bread crusts, oatmeal, apple cores, noodles, fruits and vegetables (this category includes apples, pears, prunes, apricots, carrots, tomatoes, bananas, lettuce, cabbage, oranges, etc.), and much more.
On the other hand, do not feed chickens anything high in fat, salt, or anything that is rotting, rancid, spoiled, etc. Such feeds could cause disorder in the bird's digestive system, resulting in undue stress and other problems.
As always, you must ALWAYS remember to supply your flock with the proper nutrients. Anything in too much of an excess is bad, and that rule holds true for kitchen scraps. For a better understanding on a flock's nutritional needs, see our article on feeding chickens.
For more information about feeding your chickens, read our article about feeding chickens.