Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Can I feed my chooks tadpoles? Obviously I wouldn't let them fish them out the pond by themselves, but I thought that it would be a good source of protein for them.

 

If it is okay for me to give them tadpoles, how should I feed them to my chooks? Should I put them in a bowl of water or what?

 

Thanks

~ Lucky Chicken Lover

[Plum]

well mine do eat frogs so guess its ok

[scarlettohara]

Mine just hoovered them from the pond

[docsquid]

Mine fish for them in the pond, as well as catching frogs and water snails. Mind you, our pond has proper sloping wildlife (and chicken)-friendly sides.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Mine fish for them in the pond, as well as catching frogs and water snails. Mind you, our pond has proper sloping wildlife (and chicken)-friendly sides.

 

I wouldn't be very comfortable with mine fishing. They're still only little (6 weeks) and our pond is a bit ...dirty, to say the least. (The water's BLACK ).

 

Thanks for letting me know they can eat tadpoles though

[xScrunchee]

It's one thing if they happen to get them out of the pond themselves but why the heck would anyone want to actually take tadpoles out of a pond and feed them to a chicken??

Frogs are not garden pests like slugs or snails so why would you want to kill them?

 

If it's protein you're after-there are other protein rich foods which you could feed them rather than resorting to this!!!

[Egluntyne]

I agree.

 

Please have a rethink, as frogs are declining in numbers throughout Europe and are the gardeners ally in the battle against slugs and snails.

[Cinnamon]

I have to agree too - sounds a bit horrid to me,& frogs are lovely....just ask Christian

[Christian]

.......frogs are lovely....just ask Christian

As much as the slimy 4 legged critters make my stomach churn, I don't wish them any harm.

 

I personally wouldn't feed mine tadpoles. So few actually turn into frogs, you are just lessening the chance. Tuna would get my vote if they need protein.

[The Dogmother]

Mine have been known to catch the odd frog or toad from the neighbour's pond when it strays into our garden (they battle the cats for them ) but I wouldn't actively do it for them - they get plenty of protein from other sources; I am currently treating them with dried gammarus shrimps, which are 47% protein.

 

I like to have the little hoppers in the garden as they keep the slugs and like at bay, so I rescue any frogs/toads I see and pop them under the woodpile where it's nice and damp.

[Chucky Mama]

To be honest I wouldn't feel comfortable actively feeding my chickens tadpoles. I like to leave things up to nature. If they stumble across a froglet in the garden and then make a snack of it that is one thing but I would never go out and give them one. If they sneak the odd tadpole, fine as there are always some losses due to natural preditors but I wouldn't actively fish them out and feed them.

[craftyhunnypie]

If frogs are diminishing in numbers here in the UK - I'll be very happy like Christian! I absolutely hate them, however, I also would not resort to this! Sounds a bit cruel & sadistic!

 

Emma.x

[xScrunchee]

I was a bit worried about the reaction I would get from my post when I disagreed with the whole idea

 

I wondered if I would stand alone defending the tadpoles/frogs

 

I'm pleased to see that even those who do not really like frogs mean them no harm.

[hippy chick]

I have to keep my hens away from the pond to protect my frogs and tadpoles. I once caught Glenys trying to eat one of the frogs. I have even had to rescue some of the frog sporn just to make sure that some of them survive. Admittedly not many people like frogs, but i love them, and think that they have a right to be protected and not eaten by my chucks.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Thank you for your replies everyone.

 

In that case, I have made the decicson not feed my chooks tadpoles. I wouldn't be happy with my chooks trying to fish some out of the pond themselves, (too many dangers: the water is filthy and I wouldn't want them drinking it, I fear them falling in as the sides are hard to see through the ivy, the pond is a hotspot for foxes and cats, even during the day, ect ect) and it doesn't sound like a good idea to fish the tadpoles out for the chooks.

 

Again, thanks for all your replies .

[xScrunchee]

Excellent

 

I am really pleased that you had a re-think and changed your mind.

Sometimes an idea seems like a good one but when other people voice their opinions it gets you thinking about it and helps you make a better choice.

 

Good on you for accepting the opinions of others and looking at things from a different angle. Sadly many people don't do that and will become hostile if everyone doesn't agree with them and they go ahead and do what they want out of principle-even if deep down they do understand that there are other/better ways of doing something.

 

Not that I am saying that it's good to always do what other people say you should do. Sometimes in life we have to stand alone if we feel we are right, despite what the majority tell us. However, in this case I feel that you have made a better choice for the sake of the future frogs