andy_j Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Not got my girls yet but will be looking at around 4 or 5 pekins. I've had a look through most of the FAQ's which has been most helpful. But no mention has been made about feeding garden pests such as vine weevils, chaffer grubs, leatherjackets and slugs. These would have to come from a pesticide free garden obviously. Also, being a gardener, i have access to plenty of worms which i usually throw in the pond at work for the fish. I presume the chooks would appreciate some too? Should veggies be cooked or raw? Spuds apart, that is. A friend of mine puts any old cake or crumble etc in as well? And fruit....is there any i should avoid or will the girls tell me if they don't like it. Many thanks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 if you free range them they'll eat ant grub they find if you have any vine weevil infested pot just tip them out and let the chickens go to work mine ignored the adult beetles but loved the white grubs veg I feed raw mine eat spuds if they find any in the compost after I've harvested my potted up ones they also eat the leaves of certain varieties if the get the chance .cakes and bread they shouldn't really eat but mine get the odd slice of stale bread normally those really thin end bits fruit the only one that they shouldn't eat I think is citrus. mine killed to crowns of rhubarb after the worked out how to get around the mesh fence I'd put around it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_j Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 Thanks for that. i also have access to lots of freshly cut, chemical free, grass clippings. Someone said they love to root around in that or some weeds complete with roots ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Seem to remember eating grass clippings leads to sour crop, but I can't be sure as it isn't something I have ever done. They don't like slugs because of the slime on them and snails carry worms anyway. Any sugar foods should be avoided as they promote bad gut bacteria, so cake is out. Apples are great and ours get them regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I agree pretty much with what others have said. I cook up all my veggie peelings and mix them with a handful of cheap porridge oats. Also, being a gardener, i have access to plenty of worms which i usually throw in the pond at work for the fish. I presume the chooks would appreciate some too? But.....being a gardener you should know that the best place for your earthworms is back in your soil. Leave them there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_j Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 But.....being a gardener you should know that the best place for your earthworms is back in your soil. Leave them there. I was talking about half a dozen worms in a 2.4 acre garden, not mass worm destruction....lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Mine won't eat worms, but I think they are just weird-o's! They like grass, raw veg and fruit (although I was told when I first joined the forum that too much soft fruit like strawberries can lead to sour crop), and insect wise they grab anything that moves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 mine help themselves to worms as long as I dig them up for them they also help themselves to raspberries apples black currants if they leave any leaves on the bush so the berries grow apple ,plum vine cherry and potato leaves I do give the a box of grass cutting now and again plus they get cabbage courgettes and the odd tomato plus dandelions when in season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Long grass can lead to crop blockages, but mown grass is ok for them to root in, although I don't think they'd be very interested in eating it unless it was fresh. Yes to all the bugs, worms, etc - a couple of mine love snails and a couple won't touch them! I tend not to give them snails deliberately as I have heard it's a source of intestinal parasites, but then they pick these up anyway and that's why they need worming. Mine also ate the rhubarb - several times - although it's supposed to be toxic. They thrived on it. The only veg peelings I cook are potato peelings, as apparently they are also poisonous when raw. As I keep bees, I have given mine things like drone brood (basically larvae) that has been removed from the hive, or wax infested with wax moth grubs. They love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 potatoes and skins are only poisonous if they are green it just spuds taste better cooked as cooking brakes down the starch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
