Giving chickens corn that is soaked in 5 gallon bucket of water good??

[Zenmonkey]

..., would be as unhealthy for chickens as you eating cookies every meal, every day for life.

Just so we're clear. Now I'm hungry for cookies. I'm going to go eat lunch, and I hope we've got enough cookies in the house.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm wondering if it's the soaked corn we feed them,I would like to hear someone's experiences or if they know If soaked corn is bad??

Them eating soaked or unsoaked corn will not cause cellulitis. I don't know exactly what egg cellulitis is but cellulitis is a bacterial infection. I assume it is somewhere in the reproductive tract. Corn will not cause that.

People soak different grains to feed them. That is not the question. Are they getting a balanced diet? If you are feeding them everything they eat and you are only feeding them the stuff you mentioned, probably not. If yours forage for a lot of their food and the forage is decent quality they are probably not doing that badly. But I'd limit the corn to what they can clean up in about 10 or 15 minutes to help keep them on a balanced diet.

Another possible issue. Does the corn go sour before it is all eaten? It could be going off and causing problems. I'd want it to be fairly fresh.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Just so we're clear. Now I'm hungry for cookies. I'm going to go eat lunch, and I hope we've got enough cookies in the house.

People always say "if you only feed them corn, it's like you only eating cookies". In addition to putting the idea of eating cookies into some of our minds (mmm), it doesn't feel entirely accurate to me.

Wouldn't feeding a chicken only corn be just like if WE ate only corn? I mean, nutritiously incomplete, but corn doesn't become a cookie because you feed it to a different animal.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wouldn't feeding a chicken only corn be just like if WE ate only corn? I mean, nutritiously incomplete, but corn doesn't become a cookie because you feed it to a different animal.

Don't get hung up on a metaphor. Corn (like rice, wheat, barley and other grains) contains many nutrients needed for health. But like any other food it is not a balanced diet by itself. It doesn't matter what you call it there is no single food that is a balanced diet. And our nutritional needs differ from chickens' needs, whether they are laying or not.

Corn has minerals, fats, fiber, vitamins, and such. Its protein content is typically between 10% to 15%, depending on variety and whether it is dried, fresh, or whatever. Some people on this forum consider corn a trash food because it is not really high in protein. Animal nutritionists don't agree as long as it is not the sole source of food. Lots of things they and we eat are not perfect in every respect. Thats why you need a varied diet to have a balanced diet.

I have not seen it on this forum lately but there have been several posts complaining that corn can be GMO. A lot of field corn is GMO, most sweet corn is not. I understand why some people are anti-GMO. I respect their opinion and respect that they have an opinion, hopefully it is an informed opinion. I have some opinions on GMO myself. That has nothing to do with actual nutritional contents but may lead some people to disparage corn.

Dad raised about 2 acres of corn every year for our milk cow, plow horses, and hogs. Some went to the chickens and some was ground to make corn meal for us to eat. I don't consider corn a trash food, corn was an essential part of taking good care of the animals but corn was not all they ate. That cornbread tasted mighty good too.

 

[Zenmonkey]

People always say "if you only feed them corn, it's like you only eating cookies". In addition to putting the idea of eating cookies into some of our minds (mmm), it doesn't feel entirely accurate to me.

Wouldn't feeding a chicken only corn be just like if WE ate only corn? I mean, nutritiously incomplete, but corn doesn't become a cookie because you feed it to a different animal.

Corn is heavy on carbs and fats/oils, much like cookies. Nutritionally it feels like a pretty good metaphor to me.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Dad raised about 2 acres of corn every year for our milk cow, plow horses, and hogs. Some went to the chickens and some was ground to make corn meal for us to eat. I don't consider corn a trash food, corn was an essential part of taking good care of the animals but corn was not all they ate. That cornbread tasted mighty good too.

I think you're exactly making my point. Why give a false metaphor (corn is like cookies) when in fact, corn is like corn. It has, as you say, nutrients, just not all the nutrients you need to be healthy.

Maybe it's intended to be hyperbole. Maybe it's a lack of understanding of nutrition. I'm just saying we should avoid misinformation when possible, especially on a site where so many new chicken owners get their information.

BTW, my introduction to chicken raising was directly related to corn, as well. My father (who turns 80 today) always grew sweet corn when I was a kid.

He started raising chickens because their high nitrogen manure was a great fertilizer for the corn. Of course, in addition to a balanced feed, the chickens also got all our food scraps, including all the corn cobs, weeds, etc.

This "nutrient cycling" made an impression on me, and as an adult, as soon as I had a place with enough room for chickens, I got my own flock.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Corn is heavy on carbs and fats/oils, much like cookies. Nutritionally it feels like a pretty good metaphor to me.

Corn is not particularly high in fat.

Again, it feels like hyperbole to me. Eating only corn is like eating only corn. Eating only cookies is like eating only cookies. Both are bad for both people and chickens.

 

[50-45-1]

Good Gravy everybody!!
I wish we were all gathering together for a backyard picnic and I could bring a giant container of monster cookies to pass around to every one of you!
This community is great!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Good Gravy everybody!!
I wish we were all gathering together for a backyard picnic and I could bring a giant container of monster cookies to pass around to every one of you!
This community is great!

Just bring some corn, it's the same thing.

And thanks folks for good conversation. Yes, I know it's nitpicky, but corn is not like cookies, scratch grains aren't like candy.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

 

[50-45-1]

Blueberries and birdseed,and dried mealworms

So, I just went to some of this posters previous threads, and she now has a rooster with impacted crop from feeding grass clippings. This may also be a rooster that was previously sick with twisted neck and off his feet. Not sure.
There are lots of posts about chickens needing antibiotics, something I have never needed in my 50 years of chicken flocking.
I think the root of all these problems are nutrition related as the above list of what is fed to these chickens is suspect. A flock fed normally and housed securely with adequate space and hygiene maintenance, seems to me to be almost trouble free.
And I dont know about the rest if you but "Bird Seed" is more expensive than formulated feed for chickens, and "Blueberries" are so expensive I dont even buy them for myself!
Dried meal worms also I have purchased once in my life and a small bag was 15 dollars!
The girl loves her chickens and I hope she can get a handle on what is causing all these health issues!