Cattle get all the animal protein they need consuming the bugs and other small creatures living in their forage. Chickens are predators and will even kill mice.
They are more vicious to mice than cats are.
“chickens are predators”
*chill down spine*
Not true. The cow's gut ferments raw fiber into fats and proteins big time.
Mine will not eat the mice. After trapping 16 there is one left. I am about ready to shoot thing. They chase any other traveling protein, but not the mice for some reason. Once a month I have my husband chop up beef liver for a treat. I cannot stand liver, even cutting it up for the chickens is vomitus to me. It is best to put it in their treat bowl, get into the yard quickly and keep your hands out of the way. Wear full clothing. They start snapping and jumping a good 3 feet in the air when they see the bowl come out. They also go bonkers for cottage cheese and yogurt. They dance for a fat mormon cricket. The woman who processes chickens says she has to lock up their huge flock when they do their weekend slaughter, or the chickens will jump on the tables, trying to eat everything up. These people sell all the parts so do not want to lose any bits. ick...
The chickens have an enclosed pen around their coop, an A-frame with hardware cloth around the bottom to close up at night, besides their trapdoor. They also have a chicken tractor to take them out to the meadow, and a moveable fence we set up so they can range further, but still have the tractor for protection. We have golden eagles, besides bald eagles. Goldens, along with the hawks,are thick and a threat to the chickens around here. Free range means dead chickens. The guy at the beginning of our road still buys an older flock and lets them free range every year. Every year they are dead on the train tracks by his house within a month. Idiot.
I could not eat eggs for 15 years, having a severe allergy to them. I found out it was the soy I was reacting to. I am in egg heaven now. We were accidentally given 4 cocks. We kept one and the others became “3 Stooges Soup”. My flock gets organic soy-free feed with fish for the protein. I have a mealworm “farm” in the craft room for winter feeding. Snow makes it hard to scratch in the dirt and meadow.
Before planting in the various garden areas, I set up the fence and let them clean, “till” and fertilize the area for me.
I do not have enough hens for Elvis, the rooster. Poor things are featherless on their backs. I was told to put the saddles on them. Oh yeah, I am supposed to make them saddles and get them to wear them?! laughing...