Horse Oats? --- updated, WHOLE oats with hulls?

[GoodEgg]

Hi all,

Been feeding the chickens oats from the grocery store, and I can get a 50# bag from the feed store for about $11, which is WAY cheaper. They are oats for horses ... just plain raw oats, they tell me.

Anyone know of any reason I wouldn't want to feed these to the chickens? I just give a few handfuls at a time, so I might not get to use ALL of them before they go bad, but I'd still save money. The ducks like them too (though I make the ducks mostly forage).

TIA for any info!

trish

 

[chickflick]

Krisrose and I feed our chickens horse oats also. Like you said...way cheaper. Don't see any damage done to the chickens as of yet! I'm no expert, but hey, chickens would be eating them if on a farm, wouldn't they?? They eat anything!

 

[DoctorGoose]

Well, I think it's OK--my horse loves the chicken food, and the chickens love the horse food!

 

[MayberrySaint]

I used horse oats throughout the grower phase for my pullets...at 8 weeks, I mixed 50/50 oats and starter feed and they stayed on this until laying when they were switched to a laying ration.

 

[Nyna]

So what kind of benefits do oats have? I sprinkled regular oat meal oats out before and they did not care for it.

 

[Poison Ivy]

My roo loves the horse's oats I started mixing it with some bird seed and layer pellets and a little stratch grain. Been doing that now for a couple months they seem to really like it.

 

[silkielover]

Horse oats are fine to feed chickens, but I wouldn't feed them to babies. We are always afraid that they'll choke on them

 

[GoodEgg]

Thanks so much, all!

I have to go by the feed store soon, so I'll pick some up. I couldn't see what the difference might be, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Thanks!

trish

 

[Rebeccahorse]

you could probable get oats cheaper if you went to a feed store or feed elevator.

 

[Pine Grove]

If ya really wanna see them dig in the oats, soak them in water for 3 days, the birds love them, some ppl feed fermented oats, they stink to high heaven but they have probiotic benifits.