What can I do w/it?

[Denim Deb]

My parents have a corn field next to them. Recently, it was harvested. They went out and picked up a whole bunch of ears of corn that were missed for me to feed to my chickens. But, I'm sure there's more that I can do w/it then that, and I'm guessing I can't just throw the ears to them, especially since I have one w/a cross beak. So, any ideas?

 

[Blackbird]

If you bang a cob on the corner of the fence or cinder block (or something else hard) and knock a couple kernels off, you can give them the entire cob. Sometimes they need little help to get it started but knock a few kernels off usually does the trick. Then they get to work for their food a little.

You might have to feed that crossbeak separate though..

Unless you have pigs..?

 

[SKR8PN]

Field corn will be as hard as a rock and the chickens won't do anything with it, at least mine won't. pull the corn off the cob and grind it a bit for them. Think cracked corn.

You can also grind it and make your own cornmeal.

 

[Denim Deb]

If you bang a cob on the corner of the fence or cinder block (or something else hard) and knock a couple kernels off, you can give them the entire cob. Sometimes they need little help to get it started but knock a few kernels off usually does the trick. Then they get to work for their food a little.

You might have to feed that crossbeak separate though..

Unless you have pigs..?

Nope, no pigs. I have chickens, goats, horses and bunnies. As of right now, all but 2 young roos are pets. I'm trying my hardest not to get attached to the roos cuz then I wouldn't be able to eat them.

 

[Beekissed]

My granny only ever fed field corn to her chooks and kept the cobs in a large barrel right inside the coop. We'd go out there and shell a few ears to the chickens each evening....just take the cob in two hands and twist in opposite directions until the kernels start to fly!

You can also rub two cobs together to get the corn off.

They can and will be able to remove it themselves if you just throw a cob or two into them now and again....gives them something to do.

 

[i_am2bz]

I give my chickens corn on the cob every day. At first I used a board with nails sticking out & put the cobs on the ends of the nails (if that makes sense). Then I switched to putting them inside a large bird feeder, the kind made of green wire that you usually use for suet cakes, & hang them from a branch in the pen (I think I got that idea from someone on BYC). Anyway, they love it, & never have any trouble getting the kernals off. But, this is regular store-bought corn, not field corn.

 

[BarredBuff]

I d rub the kernels off and feed it to the chickens. My chickens love corn in all of its many forms.

 

[Blackbird]

If you look in a combine or grain truck during harvest season, the corn in there is the exact same as the kind sold as feed at the feedstore... just a little dustier maybe.
Adult chickens, guineas, turkeys, etc. can digest whole kernel corn, no need to grind it, unless they are really that picky.. A majority of the actual grains that we feed our birds is whole corn, they have no issues with it.

You could shell some and use a little as an occasional treat for your goats if you want, or mixed some up with your rabbit food for the bunnies.

Skr8pn, I can't believe your chickens don't like it! Ours go crazy over it and turn their beaks up at the store bought mash. Go figure!

 

[SKR8PN]

My hens KILL for sweet corn on the cob, but turned their noses up at the field corn. Must be spoiled I guess!

 

[~gd]

If you look in a combine or grain truck during harvest season, the corn in there is the exact same as the kind sold as feed at the feedstore... just a little dustier maybe.
Adult chickens, guineas, turkeys, etc. can digest whole kernel corn, no need to grind it, unless they are really that picky.. A majority of the actual grains that we feed our birds is whole corn, they have no issues with it.

You could shell some and use a little as an occasional treat for your goats if you want, or mixed some up with your rabbit food for the bunnies.

Skr8pn, I can't believe your chickens don't like it! Ours go crazy over it and turn their beaks up at the store bought mash. Go figure!

Corn grown in a moist climate is usually too high in moisture to store properly. a sample will be taken before the corn is unloaded and if above a specified level, the price will be knocked down for two reasons. The energy costs of drying the corn down to a safe level for storage. They don't want to pay corn prices for the moisture that will be lost. I don't know if corn cribs are still used anywhere but they were built with good ventulation in the sides to allow corn to dry properly so it would keep without molding.