cookie6279 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 hi, being new to having a few chooks and letting them roam and eat whatever they wish, i wondered if there is a guide or info detailing which foods/plants/insects etc. are suitable for their wellbeing? the reason i ask is because i don't want them to be eating something which may be detrimental to their health. at the moment their diet consists of various veg. such as cabbage, corn (cob and loose), maize, dried raisins and sultanas, cooked pasta, broccoli florets, mashed potato, the odd worm. I give them fine mixed grit aswell. many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 We give ours Layers pellets as well as the things you have mentioned....... Which should have pretty much everything they need..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie6279 Posted July 10, 2007 Author Share Posted July 10, 2007 sorry, forgot to mention, we feed them layers aswell, usually in the feeder. regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 I'm not sure of a guide. Rhubarb leaves are supposed to be poisonous, but then there is a thread on here suggesting they may not be. Other people have suggested avocado could be poisonous as poisonous to parrots. What you are feeding is fine. There is a complete diet in the layers mash/pellets and all the nutrients to produce eggs. Too many greens can sometimes give them the runs and too many treats can reduce the number of eggs they produce. You can't really stop them eating insects, they will eat pretty much anything. Earthworms can carry other harmful worms, but you can't stop them eating them The main thing would be checking what plants you have in the garden may be harmful, but I'm not sure of a list, hopefully someone else will post with one, or you could find on the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 The following are poisonous to hens: Bryony Deadly Nightshade Horseradish Hemlock Henbane Laburnum Monkshood Privet Rhubarb Yew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Is Rhubarb??? The farm we got our hens off said it wasnt (I called and asked on Monday).......If so then should I stop our hens eating it........ Seems to be one of those things that some people think is and some dont..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 i found this a while ago on a website (cant remember which one though): Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) American Coffee Berry Tree see Kentucky Coffee Tree Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.) Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis L.) Bull Nettle (Solanum carolinense L.) Bracken or Brake Fern (Pteridium aquilinum L.) Burning Bush see Fireweed Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.) Carelessweed see Pigweed Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) Clover, Alsike & Other Clovers (Trifolium hybridum L. & other species) Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) Creeping Charlie see Ground Ivy Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) Curly Dock (Rumex crispus L.) Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) Delphinium (Delphinium spp.) Devil's Trumpet see Jimson Weed Dogbane (Apocynum spp.) Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.) Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.) English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) Ergot (Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.) Fern, Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum L.) Fireweed (Kochia scoparia L.) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) Ground Ivy (Glecoma hederacea L.) Hemlock Poison (Conium maculatum L.) Water (Cicuta maculata L.) Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Horse Chestnut, Buckeyes (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense L.) Horsetails (Equisetum arvense L. & other species) Hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis) Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) Ivy English (Hedera helix L.) Ground (Glecoma hederacea L.) Poison (Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze) Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema spp.) Jamestown Weed see Jimson Weed Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata Sieb. & Zucc.) Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum L.) Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium L.) Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioica (L.) K. Koch) Kentucky Mahagony Tree see Kentucky Coffee Tree Klamath Weed see St. Johnswort Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album L.) Lantana (Lantana camara L.) ^^^there all poisonous to chooks^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 My word....that is a comprehensive list! Makes mine look a bit feeble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 My word....that is a comprehensive list! Makes mine look a bit feeble. hens are marvelous, they tend to avoid the bad stuff, clever girls. Your list was lovely Anne BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 What seeds can they eat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 sorry Don't be sorry!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 I've been told that rhubarb is ok for chickens and that they deliberately eat it as it is a natural wormer. I know it is really really toxic to dogs though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 Will they avoid what they can't eat naturally? I know mine have been eating ivy, clover and buttercups, all on that list! They also seem rather keen on cat litter which I'm worried about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 11, 2007 Share Posted July 11, 2007 I also read that it was a natural wormer........They do seem to avoid some plants thought completely, I will see how they go........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
