Melbourne12 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 We've noticed a distinct preference for certain fruit and veg in our little flock. But we began to realise that not all chickens are the same when one of the other chicken keepers on the allotment, seeing us tie up a bunch of carrot tops, told us that they wouldn't eat those, but to try nettles instead, which his chickens absolutely loved. Well, ours turned out to be the opposite. They guzzled the carrot fronds, but ignored the bunch of nice young nettles that I gathered (at the cost of several stings, I may add). From what we've tried so far, the order of preference is: Blackberries (there's apparently an old saying, "To leap like a cock at a blackberry") Sweetcorn cobs Raspberries Carrot leaves Cabbage/Brussels sprout leaves/PSB leaves Tomatoes Plums (but only when nice and juicy) Take it or leave it: Apples (maybe they're still a bit hard) And they spurn: Nettles Turnip greens Melon What are your chickens' favourites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachachecha Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Mine love when I put a whole peach in their run, it is gone in no time. Cut up grapes in yogurt and of course, mealworms. Cooked corn on the cob, green beans and black eyed peas. They turn their beaks up at cabbage and lettuce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Mine like sweetcorn, banana and parsnip peelings the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Cabbage, Lettuce, herbs, cucumber, banana, apple, grapes, peas, sweetcorn and corn on the cob, peaches, melon, strawberries, raspberries, beansprouts ... actually, it'll be quicker to say what they don't like which is mushrooms, think that's about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Mine eat just about anything- Cabbage Lettuce Courgette Cucumber Celery Sprout Swede Peas Beans rocket tomato carrots parsnips coriander peaches plums banana apple melon strawberries raspberries grapes. I don't think there is anything they don't like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I have some quite fussy girls, which is fine They like a corncob hung in their run-uncooked, same with a chunk or head of broccoli, Cabbage shredded and hung in a bird feeder-either spring greens or savoy, but their absolute favourite os cooked potatoes-just the odd piece but it sends them into a frenzy..ohh and mushrooms as well-but i think thats cos they think theyre potatoes at first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Mine turn their noses up at cabbage and carrot tops but love all other veg especially ruby chard , french beans are a favourite cooked and put in the food processor ,chopped and mixed with other bits and pieces. Grapes I have stopped giving them as fights break out and poor poppy has to go and try and hide with a grape before the others take it off her (even though they had their share. Melon , not apples but rings of pear windfalls they love(they leave a complete empty circle.) Meal worms I think a favourite I didn't think they liked herbs till they got in my herb garden the other week ...Did I have a herb garden? Basically most things that are edible except cabbage they kick it around like a football until it is thick with mud and un eatable,,...Love the game of footie with it though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Mine love melon , sweetcorn , all berrys acording to my bushes , grapes and mealworms , they didnt like carrots one thing they stole from my son and loved was a donut yep ran round the garden all silly with it and hid in the corner and ate it up the fat pig . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'm too mean to give my chooks a whole peach but they love the bits of peach I do give them, as well as cherries, plums, pears, bananas, apples and grapes (in that order). Like me, they don't really seem to 'do' greens and turned their little beaks up at my kindly neighbour's offering of cabbage leaves. They also don't seem to eat beans. Things I picked them like clover, dandelions and nettles were spurned too. However they do like lettuce - the green sort but red lettuce leaves are again ignored. Fussy or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne12 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 I tried ours today with a nicely tied bunch of cavolo nero. Nothing but the best! (Actually, on its best before date reduced to a few pence in Morrisons ) They tried it. And rejected it. Why? They've got some of their favourite carrot leaves to wake up to tomorrow. I tell you, I never indulged my children like this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 ours love banana, and (oddly) potato leaves. Strawberry leaves will do if no potato leaves can be found. Blueberries too. Courgette leaves... Heather.. Ours will only eat cabbage under protest. they also go for really skanky fermented apples (my hens are secret alcoholics). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
