The Surprising Reason Why Oatmeal is Actually Harmful for Chickens

Chickens are unique creatures with intriguing behaviors and diverse appetites. As dedicated chicken keepers, we always strive to offer our feathered friends the finest nutrition possible. Oatmeal is a popular food option that many consider, praised for its health benefits in human diets. However, it may be a surprising fact that oatmeal could do more harm than good for chickens.

Understanding Chicken Nutrition

Chickens depend on a balanced diet to remain healthy and productive. Their nutritional requirements encompass proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. A commercial feed can effectively meet these needs. Many people assume that nutritious foods for humans are also suitable for chickens, but that's not always true.

To illustrate, a balanced chicken diet typically consists of:

Proteins: 16-20% of their diet for growth and egg production.
Carbohydrates: As a source of energy, that can be found in their chicken feed in the correct amounts.

If chickens do not receive adequate protein, their egg production can drop by up to 20%. Hence, providing the right mix is critical. The perfect amount of protein is already in their chicken feed in the correct amounts. If your chickens require more protein, for example when molting, switch them over to a starter/grower feed which contains 21% protein, Always provide your laying hens with a side dish of oyster shells, a starter/grower does not contain calcium. Providing too much protein can also lead to aggression with chickens, so be mindful when trying to incorporate more protein in their diet.

More is not better.

The Issue with Oatmeal

While oatmeal is often praised for its quick energy boost due to its high carbohydrate content, it lacks essential nutrients vital for chickens. A diet rich in oatmeal can cause nutritional deficiencies, particularly in protein and fats. A balanced diet is crucial; excessive oatmeal may reduce the intake of more nutritious foods that chickens need.

For instance, a standard layer feed provides around 16% protein, while oatmeal offers only 2.5% protein. Feeding too much oatmeal can create a scenario where chickens miss out on crucial nutrients.

High Fiber Content

Oatmeal contains a significant amount of fiber, which at first may appear beneficial. However, too much fiber can create digestive problems for chickens. Their digestive systems are designed to process fibrous materials from natural forages or the correct amount that is found in their chicken feed.

Misleading Perceptions

Many chicken owners envision their flock happily pecking at warm oatmeal, making it tempting to include in their diet. However, this image can be deceiving. While oatmeal may appear harmless, it offers limited nutritional benefits compared to other feed options.

Oats (both cooked and raw) contain an antinutritional factor.

Beta Glucan, an ingredient that a hen can not digest. Beta-Glucan binds with water in the intestines, resulting in the formation of gels that thicken the contents of the intestines.
Known as Digesta- Preventing a hen from properly digesting food and absorbing nutrients in the oats and in anything she eats while beta glucan remains in her body.

This malabsorption then causes thick, sticky droppings that increase other health hazards by increasing the moisture content of litter. Wet litter poses risks to respiratory health, foot pad health and a greater environment, ripe for pathogen growth.
This thickened digesta has also been a known cause for necrotic enteritis (aka rot gut)
Even in small relatively amounts, the effects of beta glucan can range from mild reduction in egg laying to death.

What some chicken keepers believe to be true is thinking that it will aid in warming of their bodies, this is not helpful. The food they consume sits in their crop and by the time is it moves down to their digestive system all the extra warming of the treat is of no benefit.
A chicken has a body temperature about 10 degrees warmer than a humans and they are wrapped in down jackets for insulation that offers approximately 22 times more insulation than skin and muscle for the same thickness. They trap the warm air that they have generated between their feathers and their skin to help keep themselves warm. When you see your chicken all-puffed up, that is what she is doing.

Alternatives to Oatmeal

Instead of oatmeal, chicken owners can opt for more nutritious alternatives. Here is a suggestion:

A Nutritionally Complete Chicken Feed: Use their chicken feed offered to them in a different way.

A large dog bowl filled with their chicken feed, stir in some hot water to help make a oatmeal/porridge type consistency. You may have to consistently add small amounts of water while stirring as the chicken feed will start to thicken up as it absorbs the water.

Using their chicken feed is a much healthier alternative compared to actual Oatmeal and will supply them with all the 38 nutrients they require to support their health and they will love you no less.

Our chickens love this enrichment activity and will consume this with extreme enthusiasm and we know they are getting all the vitamins and nutrients they require in each bite.

Remove any uneaten feed mixture by the end of the day.

Rethinking Chicken Diets

In conclusion, although oatmeal may seem harmless or even beneficial at first glance, it poses several risks to chickens. From digestive troubles to inadequate nutrition, it’s essential to broaden our understanding of their dietary needs. By choosing more suitable foods, we can help our chickens thrive.

Whether you are a veteran poultry keeper or just starting, prioritize your flock's health and well-being. Keeping their diet simple can lead to significant improvements in their overall health. Your chickens deserve the best nutrition, so let their diets reflect that commitment!

The Surprising Reason Why Oatmeal is Actually Harmful for Chickens - Revealed!