Whole grains

[Ridgerunner]

At what age can chickens start having whole uncracked grains?

If they are raised by a broody hen on the ground where they can get grit, as soon as they can swallow them. With the grit they get ground up in the gizzard. At what age can they swallow them? I don't have a definitive age, I'm confident it is much younger than many people believe.

I'll leave the oats in the kitchen.

I copied a couple of excerpts after a quick internet search. You might notice that poultry or chickens specifically are mentioned. Most of the world calls corn "maize". Some people get confused by that.

Oats (Avena sativa L.) are a major cereal grain worldwide and the 6th cereal grain after maize, rice, wheat, barley and sorghum. Worldwide annual production was 21 million t in 2012. In 2009, livestock feeding (horses, cattle, sheep and poultry) was the primary use (70%) of oats (FAO, 2013).

By far the biggest use of corn—and the one with longest history—is for livestock feed. While the majority of corn used for animal feed goes to cows, pigs and chicken, says Dr. Hart, “It also enters into feed for our dogs, our cats, our guinea pigs. Corn is truly an animal feed across species.”

In my opinion, chickens need a balanced diet. If you are feeding an age appropriate feed it should contain all of the nutrients they need in appropriate quantities. But that only works if that feed is the majority of what they eat. If they eat a substantial amount of something else then you risk upsetting that balanced diet. We can occasionally eat a sweet as long as it is not a major component of our regular diet. Same general concept.

Cereals like corn and occasionally oats are sometimes components of chicken feed. Cereals contain a lot of things we and the animals need for health. Various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber, fats, and such. When used in appropriate amounts they can be a valuable part of diets.

In my opinion, here is no nutritional benefit to feeding them treats if they are otherwise eating a balanced diet. I also see no harmful effects of feeding them treats as long as those treats are a minor part of their diets. From what you described, I do not see any problems. Treats can be very valuable as a training aid.

My birds are 7 weeks so that works.

Even if we do get another freeze before March, I can turn the brooder lamp back on in their coop.

Your birds are fully feathered out. Even if you get a freeze there is no reason to turn the heat back on in the coop. They simply do not need it. As long as you do not start a fire it will not hurt them, they just don't need it.

And finally, can they have fermented whole kernels younger or older than dry?

As long as they have grit I don't see this as an issue.

 

[Perris]

At what age can chickens start having whole uncracked grains? Or is it better to continue cracking them? I bake sourdough bread and mill my own flour so I have a variety of grains to work with.

I mainly plan to use the grains to keep them tolerant of me as I have a couple of flighty breeds so think of it like a treat. This could be wheat, rice, barley, oats, rye, etc. All those are pretty similar in size. Corn tends to be bigger. Should I keep cracking that longer?

And finally, can they have fermented whole kernels younger or older than dry?

I have found chicks eating fermented whole grains - mostly wheat - from a few days old, directed to by their broodies. I offer a smaller particle home made chick feed for the first fortnight. No chick has shown any ill effect from either. If you want the details, see my articles on wholesome homemade feed 1 and 2, here on BYC. They get grit from the environment, as they free range here as soon as they come off the nest.