Bamboo

[bygrace53]

Will chickens eat bamboo and would it be good for them? If so, would I have to chop it up or just throw it in there?

 

[Alaskan]

People eat bamboo, so feed it to the chickens! Just like with people, the tender new stuff will be eaten most easily. Chickens will probably also eat the leaves, but the older stalks get pretty woody, i am nit sure they can eat those, but you can always try.

 

[brood mother]

I'm new at the chicken thing. I have had my hens for about two weeks. I believe that 3 of the 4 are laying. I have them on layer pellets 22% and oyster shell mixed in. I have been experimenting with snacks or treats for them. They love the meal worms for sure! I tried giving them cooked oatmeal and they kinda ignored it. Give them some leftover peas and rice last night and that was better. They have demolished any grass that was in the run so I pick the rye grass we planted this winter and cut it up for them and they love that too! But I keep hearing people say they give their chickens boiled eggs. Do they really like them? I feel weird giving them eggs lol!
Also, what is grit? Do I need to give it to my chickens???

 

[Alaskan]

if your chickens have access to dirt then you do not need to feed them grit.

Usually, it is best to feed the oyster shell in a separate bowl so that the hens can choose how much to eat.

As to feeding them eggs, I would hate to feed them eggs that "looked" like eggs. This is because I am scared of chickens that eat their own eggs. Once they learn to do that, they can get into the habit and then teach everyone in the flock to do the same. Eggs that look totally different, are great and wonderful. I even feed my chickens chicken!

 

[brood mother]

If I put the oyster shell in a seperate container what should I put it in? And when I give them table scrapes do I just throw it on the ground?? And what is fermented feed??
How old should chicks be before introducing treats???

 

[Alaskan]

Anyplace out of the rain and weather is a good spot for the oyster shell. I put mine in a dish that hangs on a wall close to their feeder.

Table scraps I dump on the ground, outside in their run, so that the coop bedding isn't messed up. I will toss things like sunflower seeds and cracked corn in the coop bedding, those won't make the bedding nasty, and it encourages the chickens to stir up the bedding and that makes everything look cleaner.

I actually haven't ever tried fermented feed, but I know lots of people here on BYC have. You can do a search and see what comes up.

I don't feed treats until I have the chicks outside and no longer in my house, but as long as they are fed grit (or have access to dirt) then they can have treats. I would maybe start after they are one week old.

 

[brood mother]

I have a hanging feeder and it hangs in the middle if the run. I could get something to attach to outside wall of coop close to their water container. Will hold off on treats for awhile for the babies! Thanks!