Oatmeal provides a nutritious and warming winter treat for chickens, but overfeeding can cause weight gain and disrupt a flock’s diet.
Oats are high in carbohydrates but also contain vitamins B5 and manganese as well as minerals like iron, phosphorous and zinc. Unfortunately, cooked oats contain phytic acid which binds with calcium, iron and zinc in your flock’s system and makes their consumption impossible.
Uncooked
Chickens require a varied and complete diet in order to thrive, and their feed alone cannot supply all the vitamins and nutrients they require for survival. Therefore, foraging for insects, weeds, plants, or any other sources of nourishment is key for chickens’ wellbeing.
Oats are an excellent and wholesome treat option that should be offered as part of an occasional feeding schedule to your flock. Packed full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals – they provide essential warmth during winter months while still remaining delicious – they should only be fed occasionally as part of an overall balanced diet. As with all foods however, they should only be fed occasionally!
If you’re looking for an easy and quick way to give your flock extra oats, there are various approaches you can take. Cook up a batch and incorporate them into their feed or simply add cooked oats directly to their bowl of water – whatever option you take, be sure not to include salt, sugar, butter or any other potentially unhealthy ingredients in their meal!
Many people inquire if it’s safe for chickens to eat uncooked oats, and the answer is in the affirmative! Oats contain high levels of fiber and nutrients for energy production in your flock as well as being high sources of soluble fiber which aids digestion and stabilizes blood sugar levels.
Feed your chickens uncooked oats as a nutritious treat as part of their snack time, ideally late afternoon or evening so that they have time to digest and roost before bedtime. Just make sure to supervise while feeding as any accidental choking could happen easily; for safety purposes it would be wise to wait at least six weeks after hatching before giving them uncooked oats as treats.
How Can I Feed My Chickens Oats Cooked? When feeding your chickens oats cooked, either mix it into their regular feed or sprinkle some on top of their layer pellets. If you want to be even more creative, why not add some cooked oats directly to their water for a tasty and filling treat!
As with anything, remember to feed only small quantities and supplement their usual diet with oats as needed. Your chickens need a wide range of foods in their diet in order to receive all of the vitamins and nutrients necessary for optimal health, so why not include some oats as part of their meal? Just be mindful not to overdo it as too much oats may cause serious health issues!
