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Can hens handle whole corn?

10K views 27 replies 15 participants last post by  stachoviak@msn. 
#1 ·
I've given cracked corn to my chickens and ducks, but wondering if they (especially the chickens) can handle whole corn? Anyone feed whole corn?
 
#2 ·
I throw out whole corn for my sheep and the chickens eat it. I have not seen any ill effect.

They prefer cracked. I throw whole first, then cracked. They move over to the cracked.

Google said: Grown chickens can easily eat whole corn kernels without it being cracked as long as they have access to grit. Don't worry about the size of the kernel at all.
 
#14 ·
I had pans of both oyster shell and grit. And a larger oil pan of DI earth. That way they take what they want and a dust bath as well. I used cracked corn in winter only. Layer pellets in feed hangers that way it kept feed from being wasted. Some times I'd get a bag of scratch to mix in.
 
#24 ·
Layer mash or layer crumble/pellets don't require grit, (it's a powder or a "formed" powder) but anything else does. And no, oyster shell doesn't make good grit. Shouldn't require oyster shell for calcium with layer mash either, because it's supposed to have adequate calcium added to form eggshells.

I don't feed whole corn mainly because they don't eat it very well. They seem to prefer cracked - but still only use corn for a treat/exercise. Layers need a LOT more protein than what they can get from corn.
 
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