How much cat kibble is too much cat kibble for mature hens?

[StephieSky]

I have two hens. Gracie and Liza. I'm not concerned about their egg laying but I am concerned about their overall good health.
I also have two rather large cats. They are maine coons and weigh 17 and 20 lbs. so they require a lot of food also. Normally I leave the cat dishes (filled) out on the patio during the day. The problem is I think Gracie and Liza have developed a taste for kibble and I'm not certain how much of it they are personally eating but its all gone when I get home from work. Every little bit of it! I know its not the squirrels and jays that have moved in because I haven't had empty dishes since I started feeding them cob and peanuts.

Plus, Gracie has become a little over interested in the goings on with the cat dishes. Can I just let my hens eat this?? I'm worried there might be things in this that are bad for the hens? It would be really easy for me to move the cat food dishes inside the laundry as I have cat doors. I'm just dithering because maybe if theirs no harm in it ... and my cats have been bedding down peacefully under the bridal wreath bush with the hens during the heat of the day .. which makes me worry less about other peoples cats and small predators that might take an unwelcome interest in my hens.

Ingredients
Chicken meal, corn gluten meal, brown rice, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract and citric acid), corn, chicken, natural chicken flavor, pea fiber, beet pulp, wheat gluten, rice hulls, dried egg powder, soya oil, salmon oil, ground psyllium, sodium silico aluminate, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, calcium sulfate, chicory extract, choline chloride, borage oil, brewers yeast extract (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles), sodium tripolyphosphate, taurine, Vitamins [dl-alpha tocopherol (source of vitamin E), inositol, niacin, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C*), d-calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A acetate, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], Trace Minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calci

Analysis:
Crude Protein (Min)31.00%
Crude Fat (Min)19.00%
Moisture (Max)8.00%
Crude Fiber (Max)5.90%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids (Min)5.06%

 

[calicokat]

I have a similar situation - 3 outdoor cats and my flock of girls. The girls have developed a taste for the cat food. I'd say some of my hens have been munching on cat food for a couple years now. I've heard that this is bad for them over the long haul, but might not show harm right away.

Problem for me is, anywhere I've tried to put the cat food up so the cats can get it, the chickens still climb or fly to it too

 

[StephieSky]

I've heard that this is bad for them over the long haul, but might not show harm right away.

Thanks! I moved the kibble inside last night. All I could find is that it might kill chicks and that people were feeding it as treats. My cats are in/out at will cats so I don't need to leave it out. I just prefer they spend their days outdoors so they aren't on my kitchen counters when no one is watching. Cats are so dang sly.