Rice

Gully · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:11 pm **Posts:** 1

Is it advisable to feed my hens rice for carbohydrates?
Should it be raw?

bluepeafowl · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:21 am

Rice is ok in moderation and you can feed it raw or cooked but raw has more to offer

Roova · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:26 am

If they are on a commercial feed it has all the nutrients your hens will require. Generally feeding other foods can upset this balance which is why they should be fed as treats only. Another things to keep in mind is chook will have the same problem as us if they eat the wrong foods. Too many carbs and they'll put on weight like we would.

Is there some reason though its carbs in particular you're wanting to add to their diet?

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

Rice is OK as a feed, but it is very low in protein. If they are egg layers, then a diet high in rice would need a protein source included. Otherwise productivity will suffer.

youngster · **Joined:** Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:31 am **Posts:** 13

Would carbs give them energy to lay more eggs?

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Unlikely, Youngster.

Eggs are high in protein and calcium, not carbohydrates.

The established diets are the result of lots of research going into the ideal diets for egg laying so base your feeding on these.

No point trying to reinvent the wheel!! :-D

youngster · **Joined:** Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:31 am **Posts:** 13

No sorry I meant would the rice make the hens lay more eggs than usual?

Roova · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2010 3:27 pm

I would say no. Laying ability comes down to breed and then the individual hen. At certain times of the year light factors in to egg laying (over winter with less than 16 hours light hens often go into a moult and stop laying while using extra protein to grow new feathers). In the hottest months of summer they can often stop laying too.

You can't force a hen to lay more eggs, but you can force them to continue laying where they might normally stop naturally (artificial lighting at certain times of the year etc).

Keep in mind commercial layers which generally lay more than purebreds often have a shorter life span as a result of the load this puts on their body. They can also have reproductive problems which can lead to cancers and the like. Not a good way to go

Commercial feed will offer your hens what her body needs and will promote normal egg laying as opposed to mixing her diet up and possibly affecting her egg laying ability. Don't forget to keep shellgrit on hand 24/7 because this gives extra calcium when she wants it to go toward all the shells she's making

bluepeafowl · **Posted:** Mon Nov 08, 2010 5:02 am

I would agree with roova, rice would no more increase the frequency of lay that added vitamins

andre · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 612

If you want them to lay more eggs, then bump up the protein content.

Sources of protein include soybean meal (full fat is about 40% protein, defatted is 55%), meat meal (even mince is good), Lucerne meal is OK (about 18%).

If feeding whole soybean then it needs to be heat treated first 5 mins at 180oC is enough or about 30 mins at 100oC (ie boiling water).

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