sophielt72 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I have struggled to find anything green that the chickens would try, let alone like. last week I had a bit of a break through when I discovered that they love spinach. My dilemma now is how much and how often? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hello, welcome to the forum. I don't know how old your hens are, but if they are quite young they may not be very interested in different foods - I've found that it takes them a while to 'catch on' to the idea that there is food other than pellets/mash! Once they start laying their appetites will increase and they will probably be less fussy. I would give a couple of handfuls per hen, per day - greens are very good for them but too much can affect their digestions, and if they eat too much other food then they may not eat enough pellets. I find mine eat anything - this morning they had the outside leaves of a Savoy cabbage which I cut off when making a meal last night, and they like the outsides of cauliflowers. Some people hang up a whole cabbage for them to peck at, as it provides entertainment as well as food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I know it's not green,but I have had problem getting my lot to eat veg, but they go mad for sweet corn and baked beans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Mine love baked beans too but qute like a bit of brocoli hing amuses me more than when we have the brocoli relay race in the run I have heard that spinach is good for getting really yellow yolks ?? Keep meaning to give mne some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Everything in moderation If you give too much green stuff you will live to regret it come cleaning out day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickchick2012 Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Mine love small red tomatoes cut in half - they even leap up and try and take them from my hand they're so keen to get them. They will then take them to a corner of the run to eat so the others can't get them. So funny to watch. Curly Kale goes down well too and corn on the cob (leave it on the cob to make them work a little harder to get it!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 None of mine show the slightest interest in green stuff - except dandelion leaves. I've even taken to allowing 'extra' dandelions to grow for them. They have deigned to nibble the occasional lightly steamed brussel sprout, but everything else green, raw sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli etc etc has been met with haughty indignation that such a thing should be offered. Such veg has always sat in the run untouched until it's gone off and I've had to remove it I tried peas too after reading here that they loved them - not my girls! Maybe I'll try spinach if I can buy a very small amount (I can't stand the stuff - so as it's something I never have, I guess the girls will love it ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophielt72 Posted March 12, 2013 Author Share Posted March 12, 2013 Thanks for all the advice. I tried some of the other suggestions, but spinach is still the only winner. Although I did see them tucking into the daisy leaves in the lawn. Currently trying to resist the temptation to bring them indoors during this awful weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Mine love apple. I have to make sure I cut it into enough pieces for at least one each though, otherwise they spend more time running around with apple in their beaks to avoid being tackled, (think rugby), than actually eating it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Really your layers pellets or mash should give them all they need as it will be a complete food. However none of us like the same thing all the time and, although initially conservative beings, chickens too like a bit of variety. Like yours my chooks love raw spinach. They also love apple (but I find I have to 'start' it by making a wee hole so they can see the inside), coconut halves hung up to peck at, brussel sprouts (but only those on the stalk for some reason) and spring greens. Though normal cabbage of any kind gets ignored spring greens are their absolute favourite even more so than spinach. . . . BUT this should all be regarded as treats rather than their staple diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I gave mine apple today for the first time, thin k it went down very well. Isla gulped hers down then proceeded to grab a bit from Marilyn, they do have me giggling poor old Clarabel I think she is away with the faries as it takes her ages to realise that there is food being offered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I have a metal spike thing with clip on the end that I occasionally stab an apple on to - it is gone in seconds! I just put it on whole. Not technically green but mine also love oranges, which I cut in half so they don't eat the skin and spike on the same thing. Similarly they love grapefruit (this was what started the citrus thing - Connie was sneezing and I had no citricidal but reckoned I had the origin source). Similarly corn on the cob. If I hang a cabbage up that is super scary and they all hide under the house, ditto broccoli but most other green stuff is acceptable! I also had a bowl of marigolds last year - entertainment, cheap greens and lovely yellow yolks! Distracted them from the veg plot too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 None of mine show the slightest interest in green stuff - except dandelion leaves. I've even taken to allowing 'extra' dandelions to grow for them.They have deigned to nibble the occasional lightly steamed brussel sprout, but everything else green, raw sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli etc etc has been met with haughty indignation that such a thing should be offered. Such veg has always sat in the run untouched until it's gone off and I've had to remove it I tried peas too after reading here that they loved them - not my girls! I empathise! I even planted cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli plants in the "girls' garden". They completely ignored them, preferring the hostas and sedums next to them! Mine, like yours, are dandelion fans. They also enjoy other weeds/herbs growing "wild" in the garden, like jack-by-the-hedge (aka poor man's garlic) and the lovely lemon flavoured sorrel. They enjoy plenty of grass and clover, so in summer, I don't worry. sophielt72... If they're turning their beaks up at obvious veg (that "normal" chooks enjoy), and hours of persuasion doesn't work, try disguising it in a pellet mash (grated)... eg broccoli, cauli, carrot. Mine lap it up, but look at me as if I'm trying to poison them if these items are given whole for them to peck at! They will also eat "micro florets" of broccoli, which I throw down for them as a scratch feed. (Literally, one peck sized pieces)......... funny girls... ... .... daft me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 jack-by-the-hedge (aka poor man's garlic) I have never even heard of that! Considering how much time I've spent weeding the allotment, it looks like a massive oversight on my part. I'll keep a look out for it now I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
