Whole Corn Vs Cracked Corn, What do you use?

[Joe.G]

I have always used Cracked Corn as a treat, I picked up a Bag of Whole Corn and the birds seem to love it, I feed it as a treat adn I also have mixed it with there Pellets.

I have Chickens, Gunieas,Peafowl,Pheasants and Pigeons, any issues with any of these birds eatting Whole corn?

How do you guys feed your corn as a treat?
Mixed with there Pellets?
Is corn all you feed?

Thanks

 

[BYC-user-174785]

We increase corn intake during winter so that the birds fatten up for the cold months. My younger peachicks only eat whole corn. Tried cracked corn but they would not eat it. We do have a little grinding wheel that we use to grind corn. We typically have it cracked or grind it into a a flour substance because we do soak it when fed and the ducks especially love it.

 

[zazouse]

Whole corn here, to much waist in cracked corn, and the dust is not good for the birds.

 

[casportpony]

MIne get whole corn in their gamebird feed.

Game Bird TMC Mix

TMC GAMEBIRD MIX - Small Yellow Corn, R/C Oats, R/C Wheat, Red & White Milo, 28% Pellets, Safflower, Trapper Peas, 21% Protein Pellets, Small Black Oil Sunflower, Alfalfa Pellets, Charcoal.

• Guaranteed Analysis
  
• Protein, not less than 13.50%
  
• Fat, not less than 4.50%
  
• Fiber, not more than 5.00%
  
• Ash, not more than 3.00%

-Kathy

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I feed whole corn daily to chickens- even silkie bantams. They LOVE them.

For me whole corn is cheaper (I feed organic whole corn from azurestandard) than the cracked org. corn from the feed store.

 

[Kedreeva]

Whole corn here, too. The chickens will eat cracked corn but the peas basically ignore it.

 

[connerhills]

On the test I have seen over the years, it takes more energy for the peas to break down the whole corn than they get from it .. I use only cracked corn, but some cracked corns have had the gluten removed from it and you are only feeding the outside. A mill that cracks their own corn does not do this as a rule. Peafowl are difficult to change feeds on, but they will eat when they get hungry and learn to like about anything. Corn through the winter will make those yellow faces show up come spring and puts on fat which stores energy when cold out

 

[Joe.G]

Right now I feed both, Guess I can keep mixing it or changing it up, the price is about the same, I just was not sure if whole corn was to hard on them.

I Def would like the Yellow to show more on my birds, I hope corn does the trick.

 

[casportpony]

Mine also love rolled corn and I think it's easier for them to digest. I buy it for the ducks, so the peas get some every now and then.

-Kathy

 

[MinxFox]

Watch out on using the corn. Never put too much out at a time because what the birds don't eat could spoil and attract raccoons. I think that was what triggered the start of our raccoon problems here.