A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Is there a definitive list on here of veg s"Ooops, word censored!"s/treats which are ok to feed chickens? Are onions ok? I ask as they're toxic for dogs. I don't feed my hens any s"Ooops, word censored!"s which aren't green at present. Are carrots, spuds, parsnips and root veg peelings ok in moderation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 They might taint the eggs a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I'm sure there is a thread somewhere that gives you a list but hens must not eat raw potatoe, avacadoes, fish onions taint the eggs, dry bread sticks in the crop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Here is the thread http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=12659 I always refer to it! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgirl73 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I'm sure there is a thread somewhere that gives you a list but hens must not eat raw potatoe, avacadoes, fish onions taint the eggs, dry bread sticks in the crop My girls always get 2 slices of bread between them every morning (they chase me down the garden for it ) Should I not be giving them this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joybelle Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I give my girls bread when I need to put them back in their run but I always break it upinto tiny pieces. joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I've heard it explained that bread goes all gungy in their crop and stops the grinding action needed to break down the rest of their food. It's bad for all birds, apparently. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 I believe bread is ok if either toasted, or soaked in water - otherwise, it can swell up in their crops as jomax says. I avoid giving it to my chickens, mainly because there is always so much other stuff to feed them. I've never given my chooks onions, because I just didn't think they would eat them - and I don't give them citrus fruit for obvious reasons - other than that I give them every sort of vegetable s"Ooops, word censored!". I've just cooked potato peelings in the microwave, as I had roast spuds tonight; there are also some brussel sprout peelings (raw) ready for the morning. This week they've had sweet potato peelings, also cooked, the seeds out of a butternut squash, some broccoli, cauliflower leaves, and spinach. If I've got some manky potatoes, or anything like broccoli stalks or swede peelings that looks a bit chunky, I cook them in the microwave. They love the seeds and middle bits of red peppers. There is NOTHING that mine won't eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 Here is the thread http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=12659 I always refer to it! Tom Cool! Bookmarked! Thanks! What is the problem with raw spuds, just out of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkspurs Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I read that it's because they are relatively difficult to digest. Boiling them mushes them a bit and allows easier digestion. Open to others to chip in though, I'm also interested in knowing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I've heard it explained that bread goes all gungy in their crop and stops the grinding action needed to break down the rest of their food. It's bad for all birds, apparently. Jo I give my girls seeded batch bread, soaked in water and sometimes mashed up with added tuna and raisins or cooked potato. I believe it's high in vit B which is good for their joints, another reason I give them tuna (because it's good for their joints and also added protein for nice shiny feathers). White bread isn't good for birds as it's just empty calories but we only give them soaked seeded batch as a treat. I'm going to start mixing a little olive oil in instead of tuna sometimes. As far as I am aware, the grinding occurs in the gizzard. Food is only stored in the crop and I don't think small amounts of soaked bread can bung up the crop, or at least i hope not as our girls love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Wish mine would eat more of the things on the list - OH not impressed with my claim that chickens will eat leftovers; they've not touched any veg, although pasta and rice seem to go down ok. Will show the girls the list later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I noticed that only 'dried' apple is on the list, can we not give them normal apple? My girls love this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Hi, I'm no eggspert, but I was told by the farmer where we got our girls, that under no circumstances to give them bread, rice and particularly pasta as these can all get stuck in their crop. When you think about it cold pasta does tend to go all glutenous and sticky so it does make sense, and judging by the amount of entries on here about impacted and sour crops I have a feeling that they should only be eating stuff that they could source naturally. For these reasons my two only really have veg, nuts and seeds as 'extras' to their layers pellets, as we were told that that's all they need really. Having said that, I work from home and so they are able to free range for most of the day so don't really need much entertaining in their run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Wish mine would eat more of the things on the list - OH not impressed with my claim that chickens will eat leftovers; they've not touched any veg, although pasta and rice seem to go down ok. Will show the girls the list later! My chickens have changed their tastes as they got older. So there is hope yet. Mine eat things now that they wouldn't touch 18months ago. When they were new they would not eat lettuce at all and only eat cooked carrots turning their beaks up at raw carrot peelings. Now they happily eat raw carrots and lettuce but have gone off raw apple cores and won't touch them.......but do like pear cores I prefer to give them raw veg but I find that stuff they won't eat raw is devoured if it is cooked (eg brussel sprouts). But mostly they eat anything but they will not eat spring onion tops (and yet they will eat my chive plants......) Their favourite at the moment is melon seeds and skins. Plus I have a chook who is prone to sour crop so when I make apple for the children I have a separate pan and I cook up the apple cores and any manky looking bits of apple for the chickens (small quantities and no sugar of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Wish mine would eat more of the things on the list - OH not impressed with my claim that chickens will eat leftovers; they've not touched any veg, although pasta and rice seem to go down ok. Will show the girls the list later! Notice you've got exbatts It took mine a while to realise that veg was edible. Now there's no stopping them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 potato's are part of the deadly nightshade family, hence all parts of the potato plant are poisonous until cooked. However I have read on this forum that chooks have eaten the tops when gpt at the veggie patch & don't recall reading they died. but I for one will not be taking any chances. Also lots of people reguarly feed pasta? without getting sour or impacted crops but maybe some overdoe it? I wouldn't think it any more gloopy than a slug... (they really goe up the beak (yuk) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Thanks, Anne, will keep trying with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Thanks, Anne, will keep trying with them! Might be worth holding it for them as one of mine will only try new things that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moulin Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 mine like wholemeal bread and raisins soaked in warm milk on cold mornings. I'm sure I read this somewhere, but on this thread no-one has mentioned milk. Any thoughts on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
