Junk or high-sugar foods – As a general rule of thumb, any foods that do not provide good nutrition for us are probably bad for chickens. The flesh part is fine, just be sure to scoop it out for your chicks.
SILKIE CHICKEN SKIN
The skin and stone of an avocado contain a fungicidal toxin that can be potentially very dangerous. Tea, coffee, and chocolate – there are compounds in teas, coffee, and chocolate that are bad for chickens and most small animals.Īvocado pits and skin – One of the main fruits you need to be cautious about giving to Silkies is avocados. See also Can Chickens Eat Popcorn? (Yup, and Kernels) This toxin is only found in parts of the plants though, such as green parts of potatoes, tomato stalks, and leaves (the green parts), but not the actual tomatoes, parts of eggplants, etc. Nightshade plants – Nightshade plants contain a toxin called solanine that is potentially toxic to chickens. In short, some of the most common foods that are bad for Silkies are: Silkes should also avoid eating all the same foods that are known to be bad, toxic, or poisonous to all chickens. Related – How often to feed backyard chickens. As long as you don’t allow their feeder to empty, they’ll eat as much as they need. The evening is the best time to give your Silkies some ‘treats’ as you know they’ve filled up on feed so all of their nutritional needs are being met.Īdult Silkies will typically eat about ¼ lb of chicken feed a day. This helps keep feed fresh and also helps you keep an eye on how much your chickens are eating. Most owners unlock their feeders in the morning and top them up with feed, then pop back out in the evening and top them up with some more feed. How Often Do You Feed Silkie Chickens?Īs long as you’re providing enough food for your Silkies, you have a bit of flexibility around how often you feed your Silkies. It can be tempting to give them plenty of treats because they’re so sociable and tend to follow you around, but for the good of their health, you have to keep treats to a minimum. See also What Do Roosters Do? (Explained) You can feed Silkies the same as you would any breed of chicken, the only real difference is that they eat less because they are smaller.
Silkies may look unique for a backyard chicken, but they do not have any unique dietary needs, no. Things like lemons, apples, cherries, watermelon, etc. Vegetables – Vegetables are great for Silkies, and it’s a win-win when you give them leftovers like leafy greens ( collards, mustard greens, etc), split peas, beets, leeks, etc.įruits – Fruits are nutrient-dense and also make for great treat foods. Scatter some wheat, barley, quinoa, and oatmeal and you’ll see exactly what I mean. Grains – Chickens love scratching around for things to eat, and grains are perfect for this. Some of the foods that are safe for chickens that you may want to offer to your Silkies includes: All this means is that 90% of their chickens’ diet comes from a formulated feed, and the other 10% can be leftovers and other foods. Most chicken owners operate on what’s known as the “90/10” rule. There is nothing wrong with this – in moderation. When it comes to feeding backyard chickens, it’s all too tempting to give them all the table scraps and leftovers from foods we use to prepare meals. Related – Here’s when Silkies usually start laying eggs. While they can eat pellets, why not make it a little easier on them. Remember, they have smaller beaks than other breeds. Most layer feeds are pellets, but I advise giving silkies a crumble like this feed from Purina. See also Can Chickens Eat Deer Corn? (An Inexpensive Feed Option) I use Purina Layena Hen Feed Crumbles – click here to see this layer feed on Amazon.
Layer feeds are slightly lower in protein at around 16% and contain more of the vitamins and minerals needed to support healthy production. It’s also medicated to prevent coccidiosis and is formulated with a wide range of minerals and vitamins.Ģ0-30 Weeks Onwards – When your Silkies start laying, you‘ll need to switch them onto a layer feed. It’s a small crumble, which is what chicks need and is very important for little Silkie beaks.
SILKIE CHICKEN PRO
I use a Manna Pro Chick Starter feed – click here to see this feed on Amazon. The best food for Silkies is a quality layer feed appropriate for the age and development of your chickens, and some healthy leftovers.Īs a guide, here are some of the best feeds for Silkies as they grow up:Ġ to 20-30 Weeks Old – Baby Silkies need a specially formulated chick starter feed with a high protein content to support weight gain and muscle development.
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