peggy Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 My husband fed the chickens pepperoni (which they adored) and it seemed to give Mrs Tweedy extra confidence to deal with the other's bullying, but I was horrified and said i thought that you couldn't feed chickens meat because it was illegal and /or could turn them to cannibalism - to eat each other not my husband I hasten to add! Am I right about any of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hannahb Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hi - I've actually fed my chickens CHICKEN in the past, couple of bits of pizza that were left - they loved it!!!! H x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I've given mine cat food in the past, as a protein boost after a moult. Not sure of the ins and outs of it, but after the last bird flu (before the Banbury one) Defra said no "swill" feeding of meat to birds, which suggests leftovers to me. I'm not sure that pepperoni would count as swill. On the other hand....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Mine have had the odd bit of raw beef mince that the cat didnt want and once pinched a slice of ham off her plate I personally couldnt give them chicken meat though - just wouldnt be right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) Chickens are omnivores, and adore meat. But I think that Peperami contains a lot of salt, so don't give them very much. Giving them meat won't turn them into cannibals (but they do look a bit like prehistoric raptors when you hold out a s"Ooops, word censored!" to them). A week or two ago I read about EU research into feeding hens pig meat, but I am not sure I like the sound of that: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1867990.ece I wouldn't give my hens more than tiny pieces as a very occasional treat. Edited June 17, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I worried about the meat thing turning them into cannibals after OH fed them left over sheppards pie, they loved it and they all laid the next day, I wouldnt do it on a regular basis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Sorry to be flippant, but eating a roast chicken does not make me want to go out and chew a leg off one of my hens - so how would they make the association? I think the only risk of feeding meat to hens would be the whole cross-species disease thing, such as BSE, for example, but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Guess you're right, Jules! I choose not to feed mine meat, but they love cat food if they can swipe a bit, and dead mouse is probably the most fought-over treat ever (I don't GIVE them mice, it was one they found in the garden!) I think the whole thing about meat started with the BSE stuff. That's probably not a risk, but it just seems right to me to feed them on a vegetarian diet, unless they are moulting and need some protein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 agree with superjules, tho I have to say I have never given mine meat - just thought I shouldnt do it. reading this, I might try them on some, praps just the big girls and not the newbies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 when the omlet man delivered my first girls he said 'absolutley no meat' so I though it must be very bad for them, & worried to death when they caught and ate a mouse, but then I realised it was a DFRA thing prob for big commercial flocks & BSE scares. It seems to be their natural instinct to try to eat everything in sight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 They do eat worms, slugs, frogs, mice, baby birds, so a bit of pepperami seems mild in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I read on another post that tuna is good while they are moulting. I suppose if they are going to eat slugs and worms , a little meat won't harm them but I wouldn't feed them processed or salty meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I wouldn't feed mine meat, just seems a bit weird to me i like them veggies lol slugs and snails they find themselves is different but i wouldnt give it to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peggy Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 thanks for all the replies my hubby has run outside with marmite on toast and they LOVE it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I can't understand anyone NOT liking Marmite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I've just given the big girls some left over spag bol sauce - one peck and they walked off in disgust!! we liked it last night, oh well I spose the dog'll eat it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
