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Mine eat anything in the vegetable plot, without permission ... the only thing that they eat which I am happy to see disappearing into their beaks is bindweed! I'm not sure it's good for them, but they haven't suffered any ill-effects so far. Never thought of growing a forage crop specially for them ... you'd need quite a lot of whatever it is. I have comfrey, and they're not interested in it. I wish they'd eat dandelions and bramble. :wink:

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Chives -that is a good idea, I think I will try it. Its more to have some perennials growing in the pen they are in when I am not at home, to protect the ground and give some interest for them than to form a large part of their diet. there will be wire domes at the roots to stop them destroying the young plants.

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I hope you're more successful at growing things in their pen than I've been. I've tried wire domes etc, but they've won every time!! I go foraging for greenery on my morning walks with the dog, throw it in the pen - and voila! All disappeared when get home.. but easier than growing it.

 

Tricia

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Mine love dandelions and will devour red clover and any other stuff that I haven't fenced of.

 

Alfalfa is unbelievably good for them, so would be a good thing to grow, but I'm not sure how successful you will be trying to grow it in their pen; my advice would be to grow it away from prying beaks and then limit the amount you give them to enable the crop to replenish. Bear in mind that free-feeding on some things isn't good for them; they need a balance of feedstuffs in their diet and too many greens at once will result in the most terrible diarrhoea :shock::?

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Thanks for the tips all. The plant pots are a good idea, will definitely give it a try especially if the domes don't work. They free range for at least a few hours everyday anyway because I work part time so its more about making their pen a bit more interesting for them when they have to be in it, and stopping the soil going sour, than their diet. Lets see how it gos! Thanks

Lesley

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