No oats for our chickens!!

[Shemos]

So, I've got some expired steel cut oats, probably fine but my daughter freaks out over best by dates, so I was gonna take it out to the girls for a treat, but THEN I found this article....according to Purina poultry nutritionist, it's really bad for them!

https://the-chicken-chick.com/the-shocking-effect-of-oatmeal/

 

[Acre4Me]

Interesting info.

Although I’ve never fed any oats to my chickens, I would have wondered the same as you if I had some just expired like you.

Typically, my chickens get a “treat” of wet grower feed so they are still getting full nutrition. Sometimes scrambled eggs or other items I want to get rid of find their way into the wet mash, too, but try to keep in mind the protein content and overall nutritional contribution.

 

[Molliep2]

Thank you for sharing this information!

 

[Col1948]

I presume when you say oats are you talking about porridge?
I have given my chickens that on the odd occasion, I won't give it them anymore now I've read this, thanks.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

That article talks about oats, but isn't that true for anything that you give that has less protein than the chicken feed that they are given, not just oats? I feed a higher protein feed to balance the treats. That's why it is often said in this group that treats dilute the protein in the feed and treats should be kept to a minimum.

 

[Shemos]

That article talks about oats, but isn't that true for anything that you give that has less protein than the chicken feed that they are given, not just oats? I feed a higher protein feed to balance the treats. That's why it is often said in this group that treats dilute the protein in the feed and treats should be kept to a minimum.

If you read farther into the article, Kayla, it goes on to explain how the oats are bad for their digestion, preventing absorption of healthy foods, and giving them icky poop...so oats are bad for treats.

 

[Cyprus]

If you read farther into the article, Kayla, it goes on to explain how the oats are bad for their digestion, preventing absorption of healthy foods, and giving them icky poop...so oats are bad for treats.

This is correct.

I never advocate feeding chickens oats. It really is bad for them.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

If you read farther into the article, Kayla, it goes on to explain how the oats are bad for their digestion, preventing absorption of healthy foods, and giving them icky poop...so oats are bad for treats.

Sorry, I had read that article awhile before this thread started and forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[tigger19687]

I too had a big thing of exp oats. I mixed in a handful in their feed and added hot water to make a wet mash for them when the temps were in the Teens-20's.
No issues with Poop, they ate it all up, and egg production was just starting back up again.
I DO fee a Much higher feed.

I also call out BS on the Purina Nutrition guy...... Purina lists their ingredients for their layer says "Grain Product & Grain By-Products" Are there any Oats in that?

But he is talking about JUST OATS as a feed here. AND he is comparing a complete Feed to just oats. If you are going to compare then do it correctly. Compare oats to another grain. Pick Corn, soy what ever.

 

[wild chick]

I agree with @tigger19687 - The article is comparing a meal of plain oatmeal mixed with water to complete layer feed. I expect if they'd used scratch mix or corn or anything else they could have said their layer feed is better. And I just hate alarming titles like "Shocking Affects". I've never fed hot oatmeal, but I have tossed some dry oats to them on occasion. Common sense rules. Don't over feed treats and always have a complete feed made for chickens available!