Chicken help!

[Evie91]

Why are kitchen scraps illegal? I give mine growers pellets and corn and then anything from the kitchen ( either from fruit bowl, chill draw or tins; eg oranges, apples, banana, grapes, pears, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, sprouting shoots and seeds, cheese, peas, sweet corn etc etc - anything I have that's going over a bit really).

 

[Clodagh]

DEFRA banned all scraps because that was what caused the last outbreak of foot and mouth - incorrectly sterilised meat leftovers being fed to pigs. A whole blanket ban was put on feeding kitchen waste to animals (and chickens).
So, if you prepare your veg and fruit out of your kitchen the chooks can eat it (Mad!). Mine have stolen a lasagne dish off the dog before and cleaned it out.

 

[Alec Swan]

........ Its why its important to feed them a good diet and not kitchen scraps (which is illegal anyway).

I'm not so sure that you're right. Whilst it may be illegal for "swill" to be fed to chickens which were laying eggs which would be for sale to the public, if the eggs are for your own use, you can feed them, what ever you like. Including kitchen scraps.

Alec.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I'm not so sure that you're right. Whilst it may be illegal for "swill" to be fed to chickens which were laying eggs which would be for sale to the public, if the eggs are for your own use, you can feed them, what ever you like. Including kitchen scraps.

Alec.

I am not sure I am wrong however, I sell my eggs.

I have just checked-its illegal for anyone to give their chickens anything out of their kitchen including uncooked veg. If it's taken straight from allotment/supermarket to chickens then its OK. I didn't say it was a good rule but it is a rule.

I can't find it on the DEFRA site atm but a quick google shows lots of chat about it on forae.

http://ahsmallholder.com/pdf/AH-Keepingchickens.pdf

http://chat.allotment.org/index.php?topic=100729.0

 

[Clodagh]

Even if it is your own chickens and only you eat the eggs I am sure it is still illegal.
However with some things in life you have to weigh up
1. The risk of your animals/birds being endangered by what you do.
2. The odds of being caught!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

2. The odds of being caught!

^^ this. I would think you're more likely to be reported if neighbours don't like them and see a pile of pasta lying on the floor.

 

[Evie91]

That's nuts! I buy stuff for the chickens from the supermarket and store in the fridge until I want to feed to chucks ( as I only shop once a week and like to give them a different treat every day). Can't believe that's illegal!

Bought them some meal worms today - they loved them

Also sprayed them with anti peck spray so will see how that works.

Bought them a tonic, wormer and mite powder. Should I be using mite powder as a preventative measure?

 

[jrp204]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/disease-control/abp/collect-feed/ban-kitchen-scraps-pet/

 

[Nettle123]

My hens have scraps and love them especially pasta and rice. The eggs are for our consumption. When they are free ranging they eat all sorts not all of it very hygenic I am sure!.

We had a young visitor who knocked his pudding off the table when we were having a bbq. The hens dashing off with large chunks of toffee cheesecake in their beaks was hilarious.

 

[Clodagh]

Ours are eating a beef marrowbone at the moment!

 

[Nettle123]

Ours are eating a beef marrowbone at the moment!

Hope you have explained to them that its not allowed, lol

 

[Clodagh]

I tried! The poor labrador tried to fight them off but had to succumb to sheer weight of numbers.

 

[Honey08]

I'm not so sure that you're right. Whilst it may be illegal for "swill" to be fed to chickens which were laying eggs which would be for sale to the public, if the eggs are for your own use, you can feed them, what ever you like. Including kitchen scraps.

Alec.

No, don't think you're right there. All the rescues that give away hens have reminders that you shouldn't feed scraps..

http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/disease-control/abp/collect-feed/ban-kitchen-scraps-pet/

Ah, voilá!

 

[Evie91]

Thanks for the link - interesting stuff! I'm amazed!

 

[Alec Swan]

Ah, voilá!

It seems that your Defra-AHVLA condition wont quote. No matter, it's just above this! I'd say that this is just another load of bureaucratic old rowlocks, which I shall commit to the same bin, as the same ruling, and from the same office, who have now conspired to have wool deemed an SRM.

For those who aren't aware of what an SRM is, it's anything which is considered to be a Specified Risk Material, and that now includes wool. We may no longer burn (though in truth wool doesn't burn very well), bury or otherwise dispose of wool or any kitchen waste except at a licensed premises.

The thinking behind this priceless piece of nonsense, is that their may be harmful elements attached to the occasionally sliced pieces of skin which come from the sheep, when it's clipped. None of these rulings take into account the wildlife which is killed on our roads, or dies naturally in our countryside, and risks contaminating our world.

The risks attached to feeding kitchen waste to our pet chickens, is as much a risk to our health, as is the chance of getting caught, and that's so small as to be discounted, on both parts. We've fed kitchen waste to our hens, for centuries, and I for one have no intention of complying with such stupidity.

I'm convinced that there are Teams within DEFRA, who's sole purpose in life is to dream up ever more pointless conditions with which to A/ Burden us, and B/ Justify their very own existence.

When I get to rule this country, there will be an awful lot of idiots who'll swell the dole queues.

Alec.

 

[Clodagh]

I'm convinced that there are Teams within DEFRA, who's sole purpose in life is to dream up ever more pointless conditions with which to A/ Burden us, and B/ Justify their very own existence.

I couldn't agree more, we are only arable farmers but some of the paperwork does your head in. Why would anyone want to spray in a gale? Or top dress when it is pouring with rain.

 

[Honey08]

I do agree with you Alec, and would think most people still do feed scraps (shhh!).

 

[Evie91]

Oh dear, I live in the countryside, pretty much surrounded by sheep on all sides - by the sounds of it I'm lucky to be alive - what are the emergency measures I should take if I come across and sheep wool??!