Adding oats to feed...

[RossAcres]

So I usually add whole oats to my flock's feed when the weather gets cooler. In the past, I kind of just added it by eye but never really broke down the exact amount I should be adding. My feed is a 22% show flock pellet. What ratio do y'all use when adding oats?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My feed is a 22% show flock pellet. What ratio do y'all use when adding oats?

Why would you diminish protein (and amino acids/nutrients) in colder months by adding oats? Seems counter intuitive to me.. something along the lines of corn keeps them warm myth, but oats?

 

[KimbosKluckers]

I was going to ask about occasional warm oatmeal as a small treat on a freezing day. I would not cut into their feed ratio but wondered if this is ok.

 

[RojoMarz]

I was going to ask about occasional warm oatmeal as a small treat on a freezing day. I would not cut into their feed ratio but wondered if this is ok.

Why not use their "normal" chicken feed to make a warm mash.

 

[RossAcres]

Why would you diminish protein (and amino acids/nutrients) in colder months by adding oats? Seems counter intuitive to me.. something along the lines of corn keeps them warm myth, but oats?

I soak the oats in oil and Fertrell Breeder supplement so if anything it's adding nutritional value. Check out the label on the supplement.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Why not use their "normal" chicken feed to make a warm mash.

I could, just thinking of a different snack.

 

[Sic]

So I usually add whole oats to my flock's feed when the weather gets cooler. In the past, I kind of just added it by eye but never really broke down the exact amount I should be adding. My feed is a 22% show flock pellet. What ratio do y'all use when adding oats?

Oat groats are 18% crude protein, so at 25% of your mix you'd be at 21% crude protein, and it will change the amino acid balance. My suggestion would be if you are going to add anything, be sure to look up the amino acid profile and ensure that you stay within the recommended amounts as you want the addition to be a benefit not a detriment. What is your purpose for adding oats?
Oats make up 20% of my feed ratio, however, I make my own feed and do not use a commercial feed. I also add Fertrell nutri balancer to my grains.

 

[Penpal]

I also mix my own feed. But, if you are giving a balanced commercial feed I don't see why you would add something to it. If you really want to, you might toss them some sunflower seeds, like as a treat. They can use more fat in the winter, but not a lot more. If feeding sunflower seeds in the shell, soak for the seeds for 12 hours before feeding it to them.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I don't see any benefit to reformulating your feed for winter by adding oats, then trying to correct the inevitable imbalance w/ Fertrells.

What's your theory??? Traditionally, adding corn or oats was a way to save costs - knowingly reducing nutrition during the lean months because there was no other practical option (apart from head count reduction - and plenty of that happened too). Mostly, we don't live in that world anymore, for which I am thankful. Given the price of Fertrell's, a significant amount (maybe all??) of your savings by using Oats instead of Feed is likely erased. So I'm struggling with "why"?

 

[Shadrach]

I was going to ask about occasional warm oatmeal as a small treat on a freezing day. I would not cut into their feed ratio but wondered if this is ok.

Yes it's fine as a treat every now and then. With a commercial feed of 22% you've got room to play with. Give steel cut oats if you can and should you make a porridge with milk the protein content is likely to be above the 16% minimum.
As with most nutrition, a little of everything can ensure a balanced diet.