Dizzy-Deb Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 I was looking to see if there is a sticky somewhere regarding acceptable foods but havent spotted it yet (but quickly typing and looking between doing invoices at work ). I have been given a lovely bag of home grown veggies, I can see there are Turnip with tops on. Squashes (i think) Carrots with tops (guinea pigs & buns are going to get those ) I think there are some beetroots too, again with the tops/leaves on. Are these ok for chickens ? I know rhubarb leaves, potato peelings are a no no but unsure about the others that have the foilage on. If there is no sticky maybe we can start one for us beginners to reference against. If there is a sticky already I apologise in advance. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Have you checked the FAQ section DD? Turnip tops will be fine, the turnips themselves are too hard fro them - bung them in a stew for yourself instead. Squashes are fine if you cut them up, but why not eat them yourself? They are lovely roasted. Beetroot leaves are the same Generally they don't eat any below-ground veg just because they are too hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Hi, there is a great list of what they can eat in faq under chickens and then chicken treats. I think they can have most things except meat and potato peeling must be cooked although list is a good help. I'm no expert but i try not to give too many treats and not til evening as u really want them to eat grain 1st. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Donna is right, keep treats to a minimum (sorry, I forgot to mention that) and only at the end of the day. Their layers feed needs to make up at least 95% of their diet, or you'll have fat hens that don't lay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy-Deb Posted September 3, 2010 Author Share Posted September 3, 2010 Hi thanks for great advice, I will go find the FAQ page shortly. I do appreciate all your help. I am just getting into a routine with the girls. So recommended feeding pattern, is in morning make sure their pellets are topped up... so they graze on that in the day and then only the greens/treats later on in day ? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 That's right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Mine love lettuce and sweetcorn, but will eat cabbage, spinach, cauliflower leaves, turnip tops, radish tops, plums, blackberries. If you know someone who grows their own veg, ask them if you can have any lettuce that is starting to bolt and run to seed, they love it, and it gives you lovely golden yolks too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 A friend of mine has a lottie and gives me the outside leaves from their veg. I string them up in the run to keep the chooks occupied late in the afternoon. Dark green veg is best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Thanks for starting this thread Deb, it's really helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I agree, very useful. Have to say the number one treat are chopped up grapes .... they go berserk for them and a very easy way to get them back into the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bradley bunch Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 my girls love a quartered orange as a treat! i just chuck it on the floor and they peck out every last drop of the juicy part until all that is left is bare peel! but their fave food of all is bread or scones (i know it's naughty ), but i only give it them once a week as a really special treat and i break it up into crumbs and soak it in blended up banana to help with digestion, so really it is a healthy option Lol!i also divide the mixture out into 3 seperate bowls so that the top hen can't gobble it all down to herself! this confuses her very much and she must go dizzy the amount of time she spends running back & forth trying to claim ownership of every bowl! im sure i heard somewhere that you shouldn't feed treats anytime after 2 hours before bedtime (so 6pm for me because my chooks put themselves to bed around 8pm) - because it doesn't give them enough time to grind it down in their crops... apologies if this is entirely untrue, just heard it somewhere so thought i'd pass it on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Turnip tops will be fine, the turnips themselves are too hard fro them. Are they harder than swede ? Mine go mad for raw swede - I give them a bit occasionally - since it is hard, keeps them busy for a while! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I give mine everything except raw potato peelings (cooked is ok) and avocado. At the moment they are getting grapes courtesy of my neighbour's grapevine which has spread over my fence, and lots of windfall apples, but I feed them any cooked or raw vegetable s"Ooops, word censored!"s, and nothing's been refused so far. I try to hang something up in the run every day as I've had a bit of a pecking problem, so bolted cabbages or a bird-feeder with leaves stuffed in gives them a bit of distraction. A friend works near a farm, and got me (with permission I hasten to add!) several maize plants, one of these a day stuck up in the run has kept them busy as they shred the leaves as well as picking all the corn off the cob. Don't just go and yank some out of your nearest field, though, please - the farmer won't be happy! Apart from hanging things up to distract them, I generally only feed treats at the end of the day so they fill up on their pellets. I thought they usually go to bed with a full crop actually, to keep them going through the night - I've never heard the one about not feeding in the last two hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I hung some millet in the run on saturday - thought it would take them a while to peck it all off. They ran away and stood down other end of run as if some alien super eagle had just landed !! Even when I cut it down and put it one the floor they wopuldn't go anywhere near it !!! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I spoke to a lady on Saturday, she asked me why her year old hens had stopped laying. Turns out that she feeds them on pasta and bread 'because they like it'. I'm sure that they do, my daughter like chocolate cake, but it's not good for her. I bet that if she feeds them on layers feed and worms them, they will get back to laying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 most things are ok, except raw potato and ADVOCADO IS POISONOUS TO BIRDS...so think twice about what youve put in your salad before you give them the leftovers .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I hadn't heard the 2 hour thing either. I was told that in the winter giving them corn just before bed helps to keep them warm, because it takes longer to digest, so gives them a steady energy release overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
