Greens for Hens!

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Greens for Hens!
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pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 05 3:42 am Post subject:
All our chickens are laying now some twice a day. We feed layers + grit and anything else we can get our hands on. There fav is hot roast spuds they go mad for them, also anything growing in the garden when there let out, don't know if there not supposed to eat stuff but I think they are inteligent enough to work that out themselves.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 05 6:31 am Post subject:
With us just having our hens a couple of weeks now we are trying not to mess about with their diet too much, they get layers mash and grit and a bit of grain for them to root about for. Have tried apple, which they hadn't a clue about for a couple of days - now love it. Yesterday I tried them with a bit of fine carrot peelings, weren't impressed.

Pat

Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri May 06, 05 7:21 pm Post subject:

I feed my chucks Dodson and Horrell mash with vegetables I have steamed in the pressure cooker.They get a great variety as I get the leftovers from the local greengrocer.
I tie up cabbage or lettuce(this can make them loose) ad lib grit.
If I'm a bit short of veg I buy the stores own brand sweetcorn and add this.They love it.Also give them rice or spaghetti mixed in.Also raw brocolli keeps them occupied.
BUT HENS LOVE GRAPES seriously they will mug you for them.I grow 2 vines in greenhouse for them.In summer when they are cheap get some from a market and try them.Handy if you need to get a pill down-chop a grape in half pop pill in and down it goes.This is their very favourite treat.Chop the grapes up though!!
I had a letter printed a few months ago in Practical Poultry telling people about grapes and hens.The lady who rescues battery hens in the south west must have read it and was in the Country Smallholding mag telling everyone to give chopped up grapes to hens.I'm not one to hold a grudge though.....Try it folks,and let me know your results.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri May 06, 05 7:42 pm Post subject:
Yep they do love grapes, if we're a bit slow giving them to the hens they will fly up and take several fingers as well. They also love blackcurrants & strawberries in our garden ans you can see them sidle up and grab the ripe fruit when it's ready.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Fri May 06, 05 8:25 pm Post subject:
And yet, mine can't stand greens etc. They ignore asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, broccolli, sweetcorn, apple, parsnip. Don't even look at it!...They eat grass slugs snails, etc but the only food I give them that they will eat is layers mash and mixed grain. I'll have to try grapes.

dave d

Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 52
Location: somerset

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 5:23 pm Post subject: chickens
hi gertie my chickens will eat anything they love lettuce but their alltime favourite is pasta probably because it looks like worms . so any scraps from the kitchen they will eat dave d

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 5:40 pm Post subject:
Hm...I'll try them on pasta, then. Mine love grasses, but refuse anything else green.

portwayfarm

Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 89

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 5:50 pm Post subject:
Mine are walking dustbins, its easier to say what don't they eat!!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 6:42 pm Post subject:
Take care chaps that the hens don't get too fat or they can have problems laying etc. Yep mine love pasta and go mad over spagetti but although it can be hard with 'em begging all the time I try to only give then the odd treat or something like fruit.

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