fluffyknickers Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I want a pecking block for the chickens but cant find one anywhere (sold out). Today I went to Pets at home and saw a wild bird food solid 'bell'. It has "selected seeds and grains, sunflower, peanuts and organic binder. Can I hand this in their run? So far they have totally ignored the corn on the cob. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 How strange, I got one of those for my girls yesterday - well 3 actually! I'm going to rig up some kind of hanging arrangement so they can all reach them. I suspect my lot (except the batties) will go bananas, the last bird seed block I put in didn't last very long..... They also would have had my hand off for the corn on the cob though! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I've bought these before . As long as you go for the ones that are bound together with honey or similar rather than fat, they're fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Oh no it doesnt say it just says "organic binder" Hmmm will try to find the company and ring them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Rang Bulldog products about their peck block thing and they said no animal fats and its an "organic binder" so i said "yes but was is in the organic binder" and they said "erm, no added fat and will be safe for chickens". So there you are - the girls are getting it. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Aaaah mine are Johnson's Wild Bird Bumper Bells Re-read the label, ingredients are: Selected seeds, Nuts & Cereals, Bakery products, Gelatin adhesive, Honey Have just rung them to be sure, and they said "We haven't done any testing on chickens, so wouldn't recommend it for chickens only wild birds" Blast, seemed such a good idea at the time!! Oh well the birds will like them no doubt! The only ingredient I would think was dodgy in any way was the gelatine adhesive, oh well, I won't bother going to find the cable ties then !! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Gelatine is an animal derivative isnt it? That's a shame. These were from pets at home so I am sure all the stores have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Yes, from boiled hooves/bones or some such lovely recipe if I remember correctly! Oh jelly is not my favourite pudding !! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adams Egg Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 gelatine is animal based but gelatin is different and from a distant memory is plant based. Worth a google Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I've googled gelatin & gelatine & found they are the same thing, sorry Adams Egg http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Gelatin.html http://www.gelatine.org/en/gelatine/overview/121.htm Just in case anyone's a bit squeamish I've put links rather than descriptions! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splodge88 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Woops we gave our chickens a bird-ball once...they loved it and gobbled it all up - fat and all! Hadn't thought about the fat in it, must remember to buy nice veggie stuff in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecky Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Mmmhh, sorry if I am daft, but I thought chicken are omnivorous. If they can safely eat a mouse (another recent threat here), why can't they have fat or gelatine? It that a personal choice or are we looking at health problems? I am a vegetarian and don't buy anything with gelatine or rennet (cheese) in it for me, but my dogs, cats and husband still get their meat etc. Just wondering ...... Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Good point re the mouse (and frogs apparently ), though I think the fat balls & gelatine could be a bad idea to feed due to cross contamination (?) of food meats, ie feeding pigs to chickens etc, that's what started all the mad cow/CJD problems didn't it? I would have thought on a slightly different scale to feeding crushed bovine spinal cords to sheep, but I'm still happier to avoid! Of course I could be talking out of my hat....again in which case someone will correct me in the fullness of time! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecky Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 (and frogs apparently ) Oh lala, they must be French . Sorry couldn't help it, no offence meant to any French around here, I'm a Kraut myself (so hit back if you like). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My oh my what an international bunch we Omleteers are!!! Do I take it from the "second hand husband" in your signature that you rescued him? I rescued mine too ( he was very much separated from the Wicked Witch of all Compass Points before I got together with him, but being near 20 yrs younger than her I have always been seen as a guilty party by her ) Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecky Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My oh my what an international bunch we Omleteers are!!! Do I take it from the "second hand husband" in your signature that you rescued him? I rescued mine too ( he was very much separated from the Wicked Witch of all Compass Points before I got together with him, but being near 20 yrs younger than her I have always been seen as a guilty party by her ) Sha x Yeah, you're right. Are you my clone? Exactly the same story here (age, seperation time etc) with rescued husband . Mind you, they he is grateful and puts up with the zoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I alway thought it was down to the BSE issue and the face that they are classed as livestock. I asumed that it was Defra legislation that said you can not feed livestock animal based products. if they find it and eat it thats the chickens choise! I am probably wrong but as my wife will tell you that is nothing new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
