Tiggy Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 a workmate is new to chicken keeping and has been told that hens get letuce stuck in their crop and should not eat it. Mine have been eating left over salad for a long time, amy I doing anything wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I hope that is not the case as I give mine the lettuce I have grown that has started to go over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Mine break into the veggie plot just to eat that- once they've devoured the beetroot leave of course. When I first got chickens I heard it was bad for chickens and could cause colic( ), but after seeing it constantly suggested on here for refreshment on car journeys etc, I gave in and nothing bad has happened yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Crikey - mine consume a lettuce a day when available, either reduced at Waitrose or bolted in the veg patch! Never seen any ill effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Mine also eat lots of lettuce! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I lost an ex-barn rescue girl to sour crop which the vet suspected was caused by eating greens and treats eg grass, lettuce and grapes. She said, ex-batt girls have lived on just simple pellets and anything more exotic can cause problems. But no issues at all with my hybrids (touch wood) although, just to be doubly (sp?!) sure, I now chop everything up - also helps to stop them squabbling Of course, none of this applies when they escape to help themselves to lettuce, spinach and now runner beans from the planter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 Ok so the ex bat thing makes sense, mind you my ex bats lived until they were over 4 yrs old eating just about anything once they recovered ANYTHING including escapes into my veg plot, catfood when they got out of their own bit of garden and into the kitchen to help themselves thanks for the replies, maybe its bad luck if one has a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 I've fed my girls lettuce for a long time and so far so good. All of my girls have been ex batts and I have been very careful with what I let them have greens, longer grass etc when they first come out but after they get into the swing of eating more than mash I increase their diet to include other foods without any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
