Sarah B Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Hi Everyone, I'm waiting for my hanging feeder to arrive but made a broccoli and cauli cheese for tea tonight so thought I would give the girls a little raw broccoli and chopped leaves in the run tomorrow before I go to work. I have chopped the leaves into small pieces and removed most of the stalks, is it ok to pop it straight into the run rather than a hanging feeder? Just obviously don't want to run a risk of anything getting stuck in their gizzards. Thanks in advance... Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 my lot go mad for brocolli. I used to chop it up into small pieces - so it will be fine. All i do now - is hang a whole broccoli by string in the run - its completely devoured in a day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 Hi Chelsea, Did you chop the broccoli heads up as well as the stalks and leaves then? I have left the heads whole as I thought they would peck the floret bits. Should I chop them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 yes I used to chop up the broccoli heads. I threw away the stalk But now when i hang the broccoli up they love to peck the florets and pick off the leaves - i hang it up completely whole and sometimes they "hollow out" the stalk leaving it like a tube! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 LOL re hollow stalks, thanks for that, I'll chop the heads too x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I have ordered 2 hanging feeders from here but how big are they? didn't think it said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 I have ordered 2 hanging feeders from here but how big are they? didn't think it said! Hi Barbara, my feeders are coming on Friday, I'm not sure how big they are either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I give them whole heads of broccoli. They love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 I give them whole heads of broccoli. They love it. Tomorrow will be a broccoli first for the girls, so far for other treats they have had marmite on toast, tinned corn, sunflower hearts but the MEGA FAVOURITE is live mealworms - they go mad for them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 you wait, any sign of an open door and your chooks will be in! My lot have have several daily attempts to break the fortress which is the kitchen, dog will go out back door leaving it open and then its "all systems go" and they are stood behind me whilst im peeling spuds at the sink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 LOL, mine are having their first free range on Saturday - should be fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I tried mine with broccoli yesterday. I have a cut down shrub in the run, and I wedged the broccoli heads in that to make a broccoli tree. DH went in the run a few hours later to measure up for a ramp to go over the ladder, and said there were broccoli heads kicked all over the run floor. Seems they take after their veggie-hating dad rather than their veggie loving mum! They did, however, love cooked basmati rice and cooked pasta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 My two completely turn their beaks up at broccoli - cooked or raw its a big NO WAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I put the whole stalk in the run when I've chopped off the florets for the kids dinner. 3 of my chooks only eat any green bits left on it But my Pepperpot eats the stalk, the others won't touch it. She will eat a whole woody stalk in a day and I don't cut it up at all. Don't know how she manages it but she must get hours of amusement from pecking away at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 Yep, I won't bother with the broccoli again they only ate the leaves and the florets were left pristine LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 you might find your chickens appetites will change once they are laying. Mine never touched broccoli before.....they love it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrandMrsG Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 My girls love broccoli, they eat the lot! However I note that many of you give your chooks grapes and other fruit - mine turn their noses up at fruit which I can't understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 you might find your chickens appetites will change once they are laying. Mine never touched broccoli before.....they love it now! I didn't know their tastes may change, I've got loads of other treats to try yet too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 My girls love broccoli, they eat the lot! However I note that many of you give your chooks grapes and other fruit - mine turn their noses up at fruit which I can't understand. The only fruit I have tried so far is raisins, they thought they were ok but not as good as mealworms lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 (edited) were do i get them hangers from? mine wasnt keen on the yog i put out, or the grapes. they love corn, bread, sprouts meal worm and there corn Edited March 4, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 ours love grapes, but they turned their beaks up at apple and banana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I now have brocolli all over their free ranging run - they hate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrandMrsG Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 LOL, mine were'nt that impressed at first - but they love it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Mine love spinach and chard, brocolli, caulisflower, not keen on cabbage and sprouts (despite my best efforts). They would ram raid the kitchen for sweetcorn, grapes, porrige and natural yoghurt. They also love tuna and rice (currenlty the main food for the poorly dog- they will steal from her bowl until she barks for help!!) They do eat so much more when they lay - mine much prefer fresh to pellets and have to be contained in their run to make sure they eat at least some each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 ours love grapes, but they turned their beaks up at apple and banana. I have to cut up apple into little chicken bite sized bits for them to eat it. Haven't tried banana, they don't last long enough in our house for the chooks to get any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...