Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[Doody]

Hi,

 

So every week im sure we all throw away loads of food that we have left. Every week i find that im throwing the same stuff away, what a waste. Ive just ordered a compost bin, as i can now use all the food waster and chicken poop for a great compost in the future.

 

So here is my question, i normally find every week its the same stuff im throwing away, so ive written a list below and thought maybe the chickens can have it.

 

Toast/Bread (My daughter always leaves her crusts, so toast ok? Bread ok? (Soak the bread first though?)

Cucumber

Bags of mixed salad (Obviously not the bag) lol.

Tomatoes

Lettuce (Grated or finely chopped)

Yoghurt (I heard they love yoghurt)

Garlic (Grated or finely chopped)

Carrots (Grated or finely chopped)

Cheese (Grated or finely chopped)

Celery

Apple

Pizza leftovers (Soaked in water again, all meat taken off - Pizza's are all homemade inc base, so no horrible preservatives or E numbers etc.)

 

I thought it would make good sense to see if the above would be happily enjoyed by the chooks...

 

Regards

 

Mark

Edited July 7, 2010 by Guest

[shoura]

I think they eat just about anything to be honest! Avocadoes are not good for them. You wouldn't need to finely chop the lettuce, they will manage the whole leaves!

[Redwing]

Yes theyw ill be fine with all of that - dont feed lots of bread or pizza crusts though - a bit is fine though, i wouldnt soak it, it will just make it more mushy

[Doody]

Yes theyw ill be fine with all of that - dont feed lots of bread or pizza crusts though - a bit is fine though, i wouldnt soak it, it will just make it more mushy

 

Pizza would be only once a week and it wouldnt be that much as it all gets eaten lol.

 

Just be easier to give them whats left rather than the chooks ordering a Domino's lol...

[bridgy chooks]

Mine have eaten most of the things on your list, Maggi had a bit of raspberry lolly that fell on the grass yesterday too

 

shoura - just curious why avocadoes are bad for them? Have given mine some in the past if I've ever had any left, oops!

[Doody]

Mine have eaten most of the things on your list, Maggi had a bit of raspberry lolly that fell on the grass yesterday too

 

shoura - just curious why avocadoes are bad for them? Have given mine some in the past if I've ever had any left, oops!

 

At this rate mine will want a 99 from the ice cream van when he is near by lol.

 

Yeah i also heard Avacadoes and Chocolates are no no's.

[The 3 D's]

I think most animals cant eat avacadoes as its poisonous for them (not 100% sure though)...but if you have given them some and they havent been ill then dont worry about it, just try not to make it a regular thing

[Mercedes55]

There is definitely something in avocados that makes them very bad for birds, but I'm not sure what it is. I have a parrot and the two main things they say never to let them have are avocados and chocolate, not that I would offer my hens chocolate as I would prefer to eat it myself

[Heidi-Hi]

Re the avocados, there is a toxin called Persin in the skin, nut/pit, bark and leaves that is very bad for birds for various reasons. Not so much in the flesh itself, but the toxin can leach into the flesh from either the skin or the pit, and it is just not worth taking the chance! Will also affect cats, dogs, horses and rabbits...

[bridgy chooks]

thanks - I've only ever given them the flesh but won't do it again just in case.

[Alis girls]

I thought you couldnt give dairy stuff? I know meat and fish are out.

[Guest]

I heard somewhere can't remember but someone said that hens can eat raw mince

[Margalot]

I would feed all the a bove except for cheese (bit too fatty) bread products (can clog up their crops) and if you can get them to eat carrots or celery you'll be doing well! mine wouldn't touch even cooked carrots.

 

apples / cucumber / tomatoes go down a storm here!

 

Even then I would save them as treats for the afternoon so you know they are getting their essential stuff from their pellets / mash and that they fill up on their own food.

 

Michelle

[bridgy chooks]

mine won't touch carrots, but they eat the carrot tops when they make it onto the veg patch! I tried them with sweet potato and they won't touch that either. I was wondering if they don't like orange things?

[Bertrum]

Blimey Mark! With a list like that at the end of the week, I think I'd begin by buying less

[The Dogmother]

So long as you ration the extras they'll be OK. Their diet should be about 97% layers pellets or mash to keep them laying and in good health.

 

I never feed mine any bread or doughy food.

 

We have very little food waste, what doesn't get eaten by us, goes to the wormery or the chickens.

[kerryegg]

I wish I lived near you it would save me shopping. Seriously we waste nothing. Chooks have a share of ours for treats plus dandilions from the garden and the odd cauliflower stalk. Oh and they do enjoy s"Ooops, word censored!"s of boned trout, husband fishes but doesn't like them. me the dog and the chooks share one occasionally.

[Chucky Mama]

A word of caution

 

Defra deems it illegal to feed any kitchen waste to chickens

 

"The ban on feeding kitchen or catering waste to farmed animals(this includes backyard chickens) is part of European Community controls aimed at helping to prevent major outbreaks of animal disease in farmed animals such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza and Swine Fever. The key points of the ban are as follows:

 

* Traditionally one or two bacon pigs have been kept for fattening up on kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s along with a few hens for eggs in backyards as a means of utilising waste food. In the current climate, as people look to ‘grow their own food’ and reduce and recycle waste, there is more incentive for families with space in their gardens to consider this option.

* However, any food or waste food, which has been stored or prepared in a household kitchen constitutes catering waste and the feeding of catering waste to farmed animals is illegal in GB and throughout the European Community.

* This also applies to any food or waste food arising from vegetarian kitchens and catering establishments. Examples of catering establishments that the ban applies to includes restaurants, canteens, cafes, takeaways, fish & chip shops, kebab shops, pizza.

* The ban applies to all waste food from household kitchens or catering waste establishments, whether raw or cooked, including used cooking oils.

 

So, watch out for the chicken police There was an article last year when someone go a visit from an official re her chickens being given a few kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s

[Doody]

Blimey Mark! With a list like that at the end of the week, I think I'd begin by buying less

 

Lol, im a very keen cook. Im always having people over for dinner, hence the list of leftovers. This isnt because they dont like my food, but you never know how much or little people eat. I always cook too much, would much rather my guests go home on a full belly than popping into Mcdonalds on the way home lol....

[Olly]

You need to visit lovefoodhatewaste and get some tips for using up leftovers! Mine get the middle of peppers, end of cucumber, cauliflower leaves - any vegetable s"Ooops, word censored!"s except onion in fact, and don't ask me why, I just assume they won't eat it! They also get cooked potato peelings, and at the moment they are eating my bolted lettuces I try to use up leftovers in salads, quiches and soups but they do get the odd veg that have gone a bit soft.

 

I only give treats at the end of the day usually to get them back in the run, although in the winter I try to make sure they have some greens as they don't get out much.

[sadietoo]

Just wanted to add, that in addition to avocado and chocolate, they shouldn't have salty stuff, so just bear that in mind if you are feeding leftovers.

 

My girls' favourite treat has to be a whole corn on the cob (which I hang from the run complete with leaves and silks - they don't eat these but it slows down the rate at which they demolish the sweetcorn!)

 

I also have a hamster/gerbil treat ball which I fill with mealworms and corn and turn to the smallest setting before letting them play football with it...it keeps them busy (and more importantly quiet) for quite a while!