Mr Rhode Island Red Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Been a while since I was on the forum. Anyway, I have been wondering about this for a while. We had a bumper crop of Sharpe's Express potatoes this year and they are currently pitted. The local co-op is now selling only 20kg bags of layers pellets instead of 25kg but they are remaining the same price as the 25kg! Now I know DEFRA is very strict about feeding "household waste" to chickens. But if the potatoes were to be boiled for and only for the chickens, would it be OK? I'm just looking for something to add a bit more mass to their dinner over the winter, I won't be swapping the pellets for potatoes just yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Eeeks don't tell DEFRA but I give the girls the odd jacket potato, it isn't kitchen waste though as it's cooked especially for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Well, I often boil up the peelings from a range of root vegetables and they love them - but don't tell Defra. But it's an occasional treat not part of their main diet - which remains pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 DEFRA does indeed prohibit the feeding of domestic kitchen waste to hens, but I think many chicken-keepers turn a blind eye to that. Potatoes - and potato peelings - must be cooked and not given to hens raw. They will certainly enjoy them as an occasional treat, but they'd be no substitute for pellets which contain essential minerals and grit amongst other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 I don't advocate it myself, as they find it hard to metabolise the carbs in starchy things like potatoes and rice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
