Wheat only

katscars · **Posted:** Sat May 10, 2008 6:20 pm

After spending heaps on feeding my chooks I thought I'd cut back. As they r free range I thought that I might see if they could prosper on cheap feed. I only bought wheat for them to eat. they get plenty of scraps and ofcourse what they collect in the fields. It is freezing cold here but all my hens are laying nicely, the shells of the eggs are hard and nice and brown, their meat is yellow/ white, tender and they r fat! Also plumage is healthy. I boil the wheat till it expands, mostly I put a large pot on the fire. quarter pot wheat half full of water, I add water if needed. My rooster (this years) weighs 3kgs he is a light sussex my hens are similar weight. Hope this helps.
Kata

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Hi Katskars , I also boil wheat for my fowl , I have an old stainless steel keg with the top cut out which I have on a frame over an open fire , I also feed it to my goats , and they are shining , I remember when I was a kid my dad used to boil barley , wheat or oats for all of the animals .

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Sat May 10, 2008 7:03 pm

hi not shore about only wheat ?, but growing up on the farm all my dad feed his chooks was weat and what ever thay could find freeranging, and thay layed great ,

katscars · **Posted:** Sat May 10, 2008 8:24 pm

Yes my chickens also free range. But I also use the wheat for the other animals, I crush it and cook it into a thick stew for the pigs(they also free range). also the geese, at 3months they were 5kg each.

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun May 11, 2008 12:36 am

I wonder if I could feed my kids on it. They free-range...but unfortunately their range includes the pantries, the fridge and the freezers.

In all seriousness, though it was to do with humans, I recall hearing that wheat had all the nutrients we need (maybe not the right proportions) except one and we could get that from the plant. And, before you think it, no. This was before Wheat Grass juice was promoted like it is now.

So, perhaps wheat plus green pick is a good diet for the chooks.

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

I do give mine quite a bit of variety other than just boiled wheat ,

but I have been known to eat a hand full (or two) as it's cooling down
actually I've been eating it since I was a child and there's nothing wrong with me

if you want to make it a bit yummier throw a cupfull of mollasses in when you are boiling it Mmmmmm

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