Hard-boiled eggs

b&p · **Posted:** Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:16 pm

Ok I have been feeding hard-boiled eggs (with the shell) mashed up with their started since I started out with them because I was told by breeders that it was good for the chicks.

Now I never got around to asking why....so guys whats so good about feeding chicks mashed hard-boiled egg?

Whats the benefit to the chicks?

william · **Joined:** Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:24 am **Posts:** 39

Protein! simple.

It's easy to digest for them also. I feed the shell as well, I don't think the calcium could do any harm.

b&p · **Posted:** Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:57 pm

Ok I agree with the protein BUT they are already getting that from their chick starter.

My thoughts were it also softened the starter to assist with digestion BUT they wouldn't have gotten boiled eggs 20 odd years ago when people ate every egg they collected.

b&p · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:24 pm

Bump....would like other reasons if anyone has some.

This is info for a friend on a gardening forum.

Cheers

Hero · **Posted:** Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:05 am

A boiled egg is a complete natural food source, it will supply them with everything they need to live. It will also make them friendly as they will come running when they see you as they like the eggs very much.

b&p · **Posted:** Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:27 am

Thanks Hero but that still doesn't tell me what is good about feeding it to them when chick starter is suppose to be a "complete" food as well,whether medicated or not.

By your post I should be able to raise my chicks on chick starter alone....

Quote:

"Hero"A boiled egg is a complete natural food source, it will supply them with everything they need to live.

Which would suit me during my season as my laying hens and bantams could lay enough to cover the feed for the babies theoretically.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:53 pm

Hi b&p

I don't know, but I have been told by a few good pekin breeders that they feed egg as well. I'm not sure what % protein an egg is compared to chick starter. :?:

I have raised most of my chicks this season on turkey/meat chicken starter - it's not that much higher in protein than normal chick starter, but I thought it was worth a try. I have fed the occasional boiled egg, but not as many as last season as I have been selling my eggs at work (10 cartons is a bag of chicken feed!). Maybe I should just feed them to the chickens and not buy the feed.

Mashed hard-boiled egg is a great medium to include "extras" in their diet - ie. it's easy to add things like probiotic or vitamin powder, livamol, etc to the egg. As you say, however, as chick starter is supposed to be a "complete" feed, everything except probiotic shouldn't be needed.

Deb

Hero · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:18 am

You can raise chicks on any of the commercial starters and they will do well on them. I ahve done so in the past and probably will in the future, it really depends on how many eggs I am getting. For the first three days I do start them on crushed boiled eggs, it gets them eating good. After that I top dress the starter ration with the eggs. Eggs are also good for moma hen , it helps her to get her body condition back quicker after she has been sitting for three weeks or a bit longer. Egg is a balanced whole food with protein, carbohydrates and calcium in a balanced proportion. If you want your chicks to be real friendly feed them a little egg from your hand everyday ( does not take a whole lot ) and they will be sitting in your lap before long.

b&p · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:35 am

Hero wrote:

You can raise chicks on any of the commercial starters and they will do well on them.

Hero,
I,like I would imagine the majority of other breeders DO raise our chicks with commercial starter mixes.

Hero wrote:

Eggs are also good for moma hen , it helps her to get her body condition back quicker after she has been sitting for three weeks or a bit longer.

So will a well balanced scratch mix,which is what I feed in any case.

Hero wrote:

Egg is a balanced whole food with protein, carbohydrates and calcium in a balanced proportion.

As previously stated so are commercially available feeds with the added advantage of added vitamins,minerals etc that the egg does not have.

Hero wrote:

If you want your chicks to be real friendly feed them a little egg from your hand everyday ( does not take a whole lot ) and they will be sitting in your lap before long.

My chicks whether fed on starter with mashed egg or not come running for their food.

I question I asked was

b&p wrote:

Now I never got around to asking why....so guys whats so good about feeding chicks mashed hard-boiled egg? Whats the benefit to the chicks?

I still have not really been given a really good reason to feed them egg except that it may make them tamer (which I think is rubbish) as all my birds are food oriented anyway.The majority of us know the benefits of eggs in our own diets BUT ""to what advantages/benefits"" is feeding eggs to chicks?

b&p · **Posted:** Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:39 am

debbieo4914 wrote:

Hi b&p

Mashed hard-boiled egg is a great medium to include "extras" in their diet - ie. it's easy to add things like probiotic or vitamin powder, livamol, etc to the egg. As you say, however, as chick starter is supposed to be a "complete" feed, everything except probiotic shouldn't be needed.

Deb

Thanks Deb...that is probably to date the only satisfactory reason I have received,bit like medicine in jam for kids

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