As winter draws near, feeding chickens bird seed is an effective way to give them energy boost and combat cold conditions.
Bird seed comes in many varieties, from sunflower to corn to millet – it’s important to remember that giving birdseed as treats rather than as their main source of nutrition should only ever be done occasionally.
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Benefits
Feeding bird seed to your chickens can add protein and fat to their diet while providing plenty of vitamins and nutrients that will give them energy to use as fuel for flight.
But be mindful that giving too much bird seed at once could lead to weight gain for your chickens; therefore, treat it like any other treat and mix it in with their regular feed for maximum benefit. Be sure to monitor their health closely, and if their condition worsens reduce the amount of bird seed you give them accordingly.
Make sure the birdseed you select is of high-quality and free from additives; chickens aren’t designed to consume these types of products and should be avoided whenever possible.
Types
Bird seeds provide energy and nutrition for chickens while simultaneously building up fat reserves during winter months.
There are various varieties of bird seed available, such as millet and dried corn feed. Baby birds typically utilize these feeds, as they’re designed to meet their nutritional needs up to 12 weeks old.
However, they don’t meet your adult birds’ nutritional needs for vitamins and calcium, plus they contain plenty of calories and fats which could contribute to weight gain and heart complications.
Wild bird seed can make an excellent treat for your backyard chickens, but should only be fed sparingly due to its limited vitamin and fat content.
Storage
For optimal chicken feeding results, store their bird seed in an airy and cool area without direct sunlight or moisture exposure. To maintain freshness, it should also be stored away from moisture sources like air conditioning units.
Maintain your container so it can be opened and cleaned without being destroyed or causing any harm, such as an enclosed shed or garage that remains at a comfortable temperature with low levels of humidity and heat.
Rodent-proof containers are essential in protecting food against unwanted guests such as rats and mice, who could otherwise chew through your bag and tear up your feed. Galvanized bins or drums have proven particularly successful at keeping out pests like rats and mice.
Regular inspection of birdseed should also ensure it does not contain feces which could spread disease to birds. If this happens, discard and replace with fresh seed.
Symptoms
Chickens are omnivorous animals, meaning that they consume various kinds of foods; however, it’s important that they don’t overindulge in one food source.
Ideal diets should include an appropriate balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals for their needs. Combining seeds, grains and vegetables may help them meet these requirements.
Birdseed can be an attractive component of chicken feed, but it should only be treated as a treat rather than as the mainstay of their diet. Wild birdseed is not suitable for domestic chickens and could lead to health issues if consumed on an ongoing basis.
Signs that chickens have been fed bird seed improperly include unthriftiness, retarded growth and decreased egg production. Fowl pox may also occur.
