Feeding Chicken Fish Meal Make Them Taste Funny

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Does fish meal in the feed make the meat taste funny?

• Thread starter jillstu
• Start date May 12, 2013

• #1

I am raising dual purpose birds on a corn-free, soy-free diet primarily for eggs, but I've got a cockerel and a mean pullet that will get butchered. The feed I use (Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Grower) includes fish meal and someone mentioned to me that that too much will make meat taste funny.

Anyone have experience one way or the other?

My birds get table scraps, have access to greens, and I' am trying to mix more grains into their feed to lower the overall consumption of fish. I'm new to all this, so any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

• #2

I add fish meal to my feed which is all vegetarian.
Chickens do better with some animal protein and fish meals seems like one of the best options.
I make sure it does not exceed 5%. A formulated feed is likely to contain the "correct" amount - certainly not more than is needed because fish meal is one of the most costly ingredients.

I also free-range and supplement with green, grains etc but I wouldn't be concerned about diluting the fish meal.

Too much of any ingredient (especially fish meal or flax seed) could affect the taste of eggs or meat.

Last edited: May 12, 2013

• #3

I add fish meal to my feed which is all vegetarian.
Chickens do better with some animal protein and fish meals seems like one of the best options.
I make sure it does not exceed 5%. A formulated feed is likely to contain the "correct" amount - certainly not more than is needed because fish meal is one of the most costly ingredients.

I also free-range and supplement with green, grains etc but I wouldn't be concerned about diluting the fish meal.

Too much of any ingredient (especially fish meal or flax seed) could affect the taste of eggs or meat.

I am curious about something here. I don't at all mean to be insulting, but I wonder why you are feeding vegetarian? Obviously free range birds are going to be eating bugs and even small rodents when they can, they are omnivores after all.

• #4

I am curious about something here. I don't at all mean to be insulting, but I wonder why you are feeding vegetarian? Obviously free range birds are going to be eating bugs and even small rodents when they can, they are omnivores after all.

I didn't choose vegetarian in particular. I use an prepared organic feed as a base - which to my knowledge cannot contain animal by-products. I take that to mean vegetarian but I leaving myself open to be corrected on that.

My personal choice is keep things natural and stay away from highly processed / manufactured feed - that includes gmo's, chemical fertilizers etc.... But my birds also need animal stuff and they eat creatures of all type when they forage.

• #5

Mar 27, 2013

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I am raising dual purpose birds on a corn-free, soy-free diet primarily for eggs, but I've got a cockerel and a mean pullet that will get butchered. The feed I use (Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Grower) includes fish meal and someone mentioned to me that that too much will make meat taste funny.

Anyone have experience one way or the other?

My birds get table scraps, have access to greens, and I' am trying to mix more grains into their feed to lower the overall consumption of fish. I'm new to all this, so any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

I have had friends who have eaten eggs that were advertised as being high in Omega-3 (the source of which is very likely fish meal), taste like fish. I can only extrapolate that their is a point at which a high enough consumption of it will affect the taste of the meat.

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