chickens do not eat sorghum but the pigeons do

NSW Chooks · **Joined:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:11 pm **Posts:** 3

Why is it my chickens do not eat sorghum but the pigeons will? is that normal and if it is why do they have sorghum in the scratch mix? is there a commercial mix that does not have sorghum in it?

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:55 am

It evidently is a matter of personal choice or education, mine love sorghum, I use it as a corn substitute because with Malays corn lays too much fat around the heart that will kill in hot periods.
Scroll down there is a 3 page post on growing sorghum which may answer some of your enquiry.

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

Given free choice, many chickens will avoid sorghum. Perhaps it tastes bad or is an acquired taste? It is however fine for them to eat, chickens can digest it quite well and there is no real reason why they should not consume it.

kwinagi · **Joined:** Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:58 pm **Posts:** 236

maybe you could try milling your grain, and they will take it that way. only mill a little at a time as milling hte feed makes it go off quicker and lose its nutritional value.

NSW Chooks · **Joined:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:11 pm **Posts:** 3

By milling is that cracking it? or crushing it? thanks for the input

kenna · **Joined:** Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:50 am **Posts:** 1

Well mine wont eat it either so getting them to eat it would be good to know how?

kwinagi · **Joined:** Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:58 pm **Posts:** 236

sorry, by milling i meant both cracking/crushing it, you can use a food processor if you don't have a milling machine. pulse it til its of a suitable consistency and see if your birds will eat it this way.

HBG · **Joined:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:45 pm **Posts:** 176

Mine wont eat it either maybe we spoil them too much :lol:

HBG

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

Sorghum is unpopular with many bird species, not just chickens.
In parrot mixes it is used as a filler because it has been cheaper than other seeds/grains. I'm not sure if it still is cheaper- but it sure is in a lot of mixes.

TheGympieGuy · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:56 am **Posts:** 1

Yes I read this and thought to add the same with regards to fillers yes it is much cheaper than the other grains for bird food and as you wrote very few birds actually eat it but I firmly believe it’s there to add weight as I have told suppliers many times birds I have and many friends have will not eat it and they already know this. It is time a manufacturer supplied a premix that does not contain sorghum in my opinion.

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