Can chickens eat raw beef marrow bones

[SandyM]

Hi,

I have 5, 7 week old Plymouth Rocks and 12, 4 week old slow growth dual purpose. I give my dogs raw marrow bones (beef). I wondering if then girls can have a few as well? They would be raw ...

Thanks so much!!

Sandy

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hi,

I have 5, 7 week old Plymouth Rocks and 12, 4 week old slow growth dual purpose. I give my dogs raw marrow bones (beef). I wondering if then girls can have a few as well? They would be raw ...

Bone meal is a protein enriching ingredient used in chicken feed. I guess if the marrow bones were allowed to fester that there could be a danger of your hens picking up some botulism toxin. However I would think that there would be little or no danger if you didn't over feed or founder your birds on bones. Maybe it would be better to bust open the marrow bones with a big hammer before feeding them to your chickens.

Roasted marrow bones are also good human food so that might be a second way to dispose of your excess bones. Homemade jello and aspic is bon so that is a 3rd and 4th use.

 

[SandyM]

Bone meal is a protein enriching ingredient used in chicken feed.  I guess if the marrow bones were allowed to fester that there could be a danger of your hens picking up some botulism toxin.  However I would think that there would be little or no danger if you didn't over feed or founder your birds on bones.  Maybe it would be better to bust open the marrow bones with a big hammer before feeding them to your chickens.  

Roasted marrow bones are also good human food so that might be a second way to dispose of your excess bones.  Homemade jello and aspic is bon so that is a 3rd and 4th use.

Thank you!!! Today the girls will sample some marrow bones. I definitely wouldn't leave them laying around for days. It's cool here right now, but in the heat of the summer I'd be way more cautious on the time frame.