Chickens and alfalfa pellets

[elevan]

Anyone mix alfalfa pellets into their chicken feed?

I noticed today that when I fed the llama his pellets that a couple of hens were sneaking pellets from his dish and enjoying them immensely.

Alfalfa pellets are a good source of calcium which is why I use them for my goats and the other animals get them as well but I've never considered them for the chickens for some reason.

 

[kla37]

Sounds like it would be a healthy snack for them! Are they (pellets) real big?

 

[elevan]

Are they (pellets) real big?

The pellets aren't really much bigger than layer pellets and they crumble / break easily enough most of the time.

 

[daisychick]

When I dump out the alfalfa dust and small leaves that the goats leave behind in their feed trough from their hay, I throw it right to the chickens and they love it. The horse eats the big sticks of hay the goats leave behind so I have little hay waste when they all share. I haven't tried alfalfa pellets yet, but want to.

 

[Beekissed]

I've mixed alfalfa pellets in my feed rations in the winter time to replace their natural forage. I don't mix in too many as they'll pick past them for the other grains but I've found a little is just enough. Cheap feed supplement, too.

 

[Lothiriel]

I've read that it's good for them. I don't bother actually feeding it to my girls since they usually sneak a bunch out of the cow's breakfast... I remember reading over on BYC how someone soaked it in the hot water (we do that for the cow) and fed it to their chickens like a mash. They may have mixed some of their grain into the alfalfa.

 

[kla37]

I'm going to try that, feeding them a mash with alfalfa pellets in it. I bet they'll go nuts for it, since the grass isn't green anymore. I think it's frustrating them!