Feeding Chickens Hulled Grains

I intended to buy hull-less oats to grow oatmeal for myself. However, I accidentally ordered the hulled variety instead. I decided to grow them anyways thinking I could feed the oatmeal to my chickens. My question is will I have to remove the hulls first or can they just eat seed with the hull on it or pick the hulls off?

The reason I ask is that I read pigs can’t digest hulled grains, but cattle can. I figured chicken, being omnivores, had a digestive system more similar to pigs.

Chickens digestive systems are not well equipped for high fiber things in my experience but hulled oats are okay. My chickens have eaten oats that have grown from a plant that had sprouted before but it does not seem to be high on their palatable plant list.

I'd say offer it to them in a small amount. I would not make it a large portion of their feed ration myself.

I remember reading or hearing about chickens swallowing stones to help them grind foods in their stomach.
As they evolved around hulled grains I would expect them to be okay with them. Of course, as Timothy points out, in moderate quantities.
But I don't personally have any chickens, so don't quote me on it.

I've fed both chickens and pigs hulled oats before and it does well mixed with other foods.

Dry, chickens don't particularly like it and will pick at it a bit. Pigs will eat it then shit out the empty hulls so it looks like it wasn't digested but most of it was. Chickens love oats after it went through a pig... and I mean love.

I wonder if sprouting the grains or fermenting them would be easier for the chicken to like the hulled oats?

Anne Miller wrote:I wonder if sprouting the grains or fermenting them would be easier for the chicken to like the hulled oats?

I did ferment the oats in the summer and it was much more palatable for both the chickens and pigs.

I feed my chickens whole grains.  Oats with the hull on would be fine for my chickens.   I don't give them any crushed grains or commercial ground meal feed.   They do need to have access to grit.   I also feed them whole corn, wheat, barley and peas.   I usually feed more that they can eat so that some of the grains will be missed and get a chance to sprout and maybe even grow a bit.  

I think they do best with a mix of whole grains, fermented foods and sprouted grains.  Of course they need plenty of fresh pasture and scratching around too!

Chickens can eat hulled oats with the hulls on, but they may not digest the hulls well. They’ll likely pick at the seed and break it down.

If you’re worried, you can crush or roll the oats to make them easier to digest. Chickens have a more flexible diet than pigs, so they’ll be okay with the hulls.

Hensley Steven wrote:Chickens can eat hulled oats with the hulls on, but they may not digest the hulls well. They’ll likely pick at the seed and break it down.

If you’re worried, you can crush or roll the oats to make them easier to digest. Chickens have a more flexible diet than pigs, so they’ll be okay with the hulls.

I think thats what I’ll do, I’ll is just roll them so the grain pops out of the hull