Why can't you feed uncooked rice to your flock?

[catoosajojo]

We live in the Republic of Panama and hay/straw is not available here for bedding. We use rice grass and every time the bedding is changed our chickens can't hardly wait to get at it. They love the uncooked bits of rice that is still in the grass. But I'm reading that you should not feed rice unless it's cooked. Mine won't eat it cooked. We have mostly what here they call Patio chickens, which is really just a cross breeding of different Bantums I believe.

 

[MoodyChicken]

Too much can clog their gut. Rice is very hard to digest. I think it can swell too. In moderation it should be fine. Mine love rice pudding. lol

 

[cw]

the rice will absorb the moisture in them swell and killl them, but the use u describe they should be fine

 

[kelseygirl707]

Rice expands with moisture, so they can eat untill they are full, then the rice expands, and well

 

[Year of the Rooster]

I know that people stop throwing raw rice at weddings because the birds would come and eat them, then explode..? Not sure how much of that is true though...

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

I've heard the same thing about them exploding. Just think about how much rice swells up when you cook it.

 

[catoosajojo]

Well they've been eating it uncooked for 18 months without any problems at all. They have a large run and scratch feed that is a combination of cracked corn, and about 4 other seeds including sorgum. I would think any type of grain would swell so that is not computing for me. If rice is left in a pan uncooked it does not swell, so I'm not quite buying this answer, no offense. They also get lots of green stuff, fruits, even coconut and papaya. Scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc, etc. lol

 

[sjh]

Lets dispell this myth once again. Rice does not explode birds. Check this snopes article whick quotes a berkley professer and a Rice growing orgination spokesperson.
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/birdrice.asp

 

[Imp]

The rice causing exploding birds was a 1950's April Fools Day joke published in some newspaper, on the East Coast i believe. Took on a life of its own. Kinda like the "pasta" trees that grow in Italy.

Imp

& Welcome to BYC

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

just make sure with the whole grains including rice they have access to gravel either granite grit or sea gravel beach gravel

as this is neccessary for the chickens gizzard to grind the whole grain

your birds are probably very pretty as rice is very good for feather quality

and NO they will not blow up

rice is at a preium price right now so maybe that is why they quit throwing it at wqeddings

and cities did not like th flock of pigeons (dirty manure) that came with throwing rice
thus some cities banned the throwing of rice

you are blessed with having the rice bedding plants

any questions email me