Granola as feed?

[DrJerryrigger]

Hi,
think this may be my first post, I forget, I've been registered and reading for some time now.
Anyway I have 4 laying hens, and 26 six week old strait run birds. I'm now working at a granola factory, and we save floor sweepings and give them to pig farmers. I've been considering bringing some home for the flock, but I'm wary to give them much of it. I'm sure they would enjoy it, but the sugar content is quite high. I was thinking I might add 10-30% of it to their scratch.
I don't know what or if there would be ill effects of giving them too much. And possibly it would be alright to give the cockerels (most of who will be slaughtered in a few weeks) all they can eat.
Thanks!

 

[Oregon Blues]

They could have some, but I would limit the amount because of the sugar. Other than the sugar, everything in granola should be good for the chickens. The sugar won't hurt them in small amounts.

 

[DrJerryrigger]

Any suggestions to how much is too much? And what problems may be caused by a diet too high in sugar?

 

[galanie]

If by scratch you mean their treat food, then 30% should be fine. If you mean their main diet, then I'd not go over 10%. We've all been told not to feed them too much sugar but no one seems to know the damage it causes. I'd hazard a guess that it messes with their bodies the same way it does us: Causes a lot of abdominal fat, which in a laying hen, can make her lay less or cause other problems.

 

[donrae]

I'd feed cockerals you're intending to butcher all they want, personally. It'll add weight and a nice layer of fat to them. I'd still offer them the regular food free choice and let them balance it out themselves. Potential layers, I'd limit as stated cause of the chance if more abd fat causing laying problems. I think it's a sad state when a food marketed as "healthy whole grains" for humans isn't good enough for chickens who happily eat nasty things.

 

[galanie]

I'd feed cockerals you're intending to butcher all they want, personally. It'll add weight and a nice layer of fat to them. I'd still offer them the regular food free choice and let them balance it out themselves. Potential layers, I'd limit as stated cause of the chance if more abd fat causing laying problems. I think it's a sad state when a food marketed as "healthy whole grains" for humans isn't good enough for chickens who happily eat nasty things.

See, that's the rub. The whole grains are healthy, but then it has all that sugar in it that isn't. So it isn't really good for humans either.

 

[donrae]

See, that's the rub. The whole grains are healthy, but then it has all that sugar in it that isn't. So it isn't really good for humans either.

We'll just agree to disagree on this one

 

[DrJerryrigger]

If by scratch you mean their treat food, then 30% should be fine. If you mean their main diet, then I'd not go over 10%. We've all been told not to feed them too much sugar but no one seems to know the damage it causes. I'd hazard a guess that it messes with their bodies the same way it does us: Causes a lot of abdominal fat, which in a laying hen, can make her lay less or cause other problems.

Thanks, that's kind of what i was guessing, but didn't want to chance it off my uneducated guess.

I'd feed cockerals you're intending to butcher all they want, personally. It'll add weight and a nice layer of fat to them. I'd still offer them the regular food free choice and let them balance it out themselves. Potential layers, I'd limit as stated cause of the chance if more abd fat causing laying problems. I think it's a sad state when a food marketed as "healthy whole grains" for humans isn't good enough for chickens who happily eat nasty things.

That's great news, I was hoping I could fatten them up on free food. I will give them all the grower pellets they want too, but I'm hoping that will trim back my bill at the feed store.

As far as human consumption of granola; it comes down to quantity. If a person was to eat more than 40% of their diet of granola it wouldn't be great, but the same could be said for most foods. There is also a wide range of granola on the market (I can now say with some authority). They range from chocolate candy coated oats, to things that are lightly sweetened with nuts and dried fruit.

Which brings me to another question. Are there anythings that I should avoid feeding them that may be in granola. Most things we make have very normal ingredients, basically what people would make at home, just in 400lb batches; rolled grain, puffed rice, nuts, dried fruit, coconut ext. The only odd ball stuff I can think of in some products is whey powder or orange oil. I'm not really concerned with flavors coming out in the eggs, just the health of my birds.
Thanks again!

 

[galanie]

See, that's the rub. The whole grains are healthy, but then it has all that sugar in it that isn't. So it isn't really good for humans either.

We'll just agree to disagree on this one

Not wanting a big debate or anything, I'm just curious. You don't think whole grains (oats mainly) are healthy?

 

[Chris09]

I'd feed cockerals you're intending to butcher all they want, personally. It'll add weight and a nice layer of fat to them. I'd still offer them the regular food free choice and let them balance it out themselves. Potential layers, I'd limit as stated cause of the chance if more abd fat causing laying problems. I think it's a sad state when a food marketed as "healthy whole grains" for humans isn't good enough for chickens who happily eat nasty things.

There is a big difference between proper human nutrition and proper poultry nutrition, and just because you may know one doesn't mean you know the other also what may be 'healthy' for human can be not healthy for poultry.

The OP never stated what type of 'granola' it was nor did they state what was in the 'granola', if the granola has lots of sweeteners in it (sugar, honey, molasses, etc) and or chocolate in it there is no way that I would full feed it to them.

Chris