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[phenna_family]

Hi,

 

What greens do everyone feed there chickens? Never given mine any before, so just wanted some advice on this.

 

Claire

Edited April 6, 2010 by Guest

[patsylabrador]

I feed mine spring greens, which they love, broccoli is ok but they don't bother with the stalk and they love curly kale.

I don't feed them lettuce on the grounds that it's bad for guinea pigs but I'd like to know if anyone gives lettuce to their chickens.

[phenna_family]

Yes i never fed my guinea pigs lettuce as it does upset their tummys.

 

I have tried them with carrots as someone had said that their chickens liked potato peeling and carrots.... well not mine they hated them.

 

They adore corn on the cob, and its great to watch them playing football with cherry tomatoes before devouring them

 

 

So I was just after a few ideas on which greens to try.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Olly]

lettuce, spinach, broccoli, kale, cabbage ... bolting cauliflower heads, anything I can get that's free/cheap/reduced at Waitrose! there's nothing they won't eat. Greens are good for your chooks, especially if they are not able to free-range much, and they make the egg yolks a nice dark yellow colour.

[phenna_family]

Thanks Olly,

 

They do free range everyday, but I will introduce some greens tomorrow...trip to the supermarket for me

 

 

Thanks for your advice its very much appreciated.

 

Will let you know how I get on and if they like them.

 

 

Silly question but do I need to chop them up in to small pieces dont want them to choke or anything.

[Snowy]

Don't give them stuff that's finely chopped (ie grass cuttings) - whole leaves are better as then they will nibble off the right amount. In fact a whole cabbage will keep them entertained for a couple of hours

[Olly]

I agree - wouldn't bother chopping things up, those pointy little beaks will make short work of them, and anything too tough like broccoli stalks (off a bolted plant, not the stuff you eat!) will just be left.

 

Pulling things to bits is part of the entertainment for them!

[Egluntyne]

No need to chop them up, in fact this is not a good idea as they might bolt down larger pieces than is good for them, and this may lead to a crop impaction.

 

Best to give them chunks of cabbage or broccoli to peck at.

[Nicola O]

broccoli is ok but they don't bother with the stalk

 

and anything too tough like broccoli stalks (off a bolted plant, not the stuff you eat!) will just be left

 

Ooooh, don't let them waste the stalk....I chop them up into 'rings' about 1/2 inch thick - the stalk is a lot softer on the inside than it feels from the outside (if that makes sense) and mine go mad for them.

 

In fact, at the supermarket I rummage through the broccoli boxes and bag up the bare stalks that people snap off and leave. They let me have it for free, and after all, I'm doing them a favour by tidying up the boxes (and they last quite a long time if kept in the fridge).

 

Nicola.

[abwsco]

Definately no need to chop them up as others have said. Mine have eaten whole frogs, a mouse and a dead baby bird

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

Definately no need to chop them up as others have said. Mine have eaten whole frogs, a mouse and a dead baby bird

 

whole Frogs!? Woah

[batcatz]

I steam, boil or microwave potato peelings and throw in any stalks like cauliflower, brocolli etc. They eat it all if it's soft.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Hmmm... Clearly it must be just muggins here whose girls refuse to eat any greens unless they are chopped into nice wormy shapes

 

Wrapped around their little claws? I think so!