Can I feed My Chickens Birdseed?

[Farmgirl1000]

Hello everyone,


I was wondering if it is OK to feed my hens birdseed. My friend was saying it might be more healthy for my hens. I am concerned about the GMO "s in cracked corn and grain that I know is in "un-organic" chicken feed. Right now , I am feeding them Purina scratch, that has cracked corn and grain in it , along with Omega 3 , (Purina) Laying pellets. I know GMO grain and corn is really bad for them, (and for me too, when I eat their eggs.) Is it OK for me to feed them birdseed? I was wondering if their was a alternative , instead of the scratch I feed them now. Does anyone know of a place where I can buy Organic chicken feed, ( that is not too expensive)?



Also, does anyone know if Purina scratch grains are GMO products?

Thank you so much for any advice.

FarmGirl

 

[foreverlearning]

Look up feed mills in your area. Many have organic and non GMO feeds. My local feed mill is cheap...$9 for a 50# bag of feed. They can't certify as organic without raising their prices but their feed is non gmo and pesticide free. Something to look into...

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Birdseed is great for using as a scratch food.

Millet has about 11% protein
Black oil sunflower seeds have 16% protein


http://www2.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Feed_ingredients/Grains.html
univ. of kentucky link

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1179
cornell lab link

My chickens get birdseed as part of their regular diet.

 

[Farmgirl1000]

Thanks everyone!

 

[SNJchickens]

I, too, give mixed birdseed in winter as part of the scratch (treat) but in the summer I prefer a "cooling" grain such as rolled oats.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

I also give my chickens a mixture of half birdseed and cracked corn in the winter. Birdseed and corn half chemicals that produce body heat, this makes it a great winter snack. And plus they love it.

 

[Cacique500]

Whatever the parrots don't eat at night the chickens get the next morning...and they snatch it up pretty quick!

 

[TheChickInn]

I would think the birdseed would be a nice treat. I had to take my backyard birdfeeder down because my chickens were ALWAYS siting under it, eating everything the wild birds dropped. I was worried about them getting diseases. Lots of protein in some of the birdseed mixes ( especially sunflower seeds).

 

[icsd71]

I have have feed mine for years bird seed as a treat. They love it. Won't do any harm.

 

[AlohaChickens80]

I throw a handful or two out every morning when I let them out. They love it!