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OH MY LETTUCE!

post #1 of 13
3/13/12 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 

I am in need of some advise.  I work at a homeless shelter and sometimes they have fruit and veggies that are too old to put out, but they are perfectly fine.  So I spoke with the kitchen manager and asked for some of the stuff they are throwing away. He gave me two boxes of "stuff".  I gave the girls (6 large breeds) a couple handfuls of strawberries and a head of romaine lettuce.  They ate the strawberries immediately and then ate a little of the romaine before bed.  This morning they hammered the rest of the romaine down.

 

This leads me to my question.  I put out 3 more head of romaine when I got home from work tonight and they ate them all!  Nothing left.  Is this bad for them to eat this much?  I know they are pretty opportunistic, but they would stop if they were full, right?  I want them to get a variety of excellent, vitamin and mineral rich food, but I don't want to kill them with it!  Any advise would be appreciated.  Thank you.

 

Sal 

Husband, father to a daughter and son.  9 laying hens, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 3 Golden Buffs, 2 Plymouth Partridge Rocks, a Rhode Island Red, and in the brooder: 5 Red Ranger Broilers, 2 White Rocks, 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Americauna, 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Buff Opringtons and a Salmon Faverolle Mystery Chick Rooster!!



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Husband, father to a daughter and son.  9 laying hens, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 3 Golden Buffs, 2 Plymouth Partridge Rocks, a Rhode Island Red, and in the brooder: 5 Red Ranger Broilers, 2 White Rocks, 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Americauna, 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Buff Opringtons and a Salmon Faverolle Mystery Chick Rooster!!



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post #2 of 13
3/13/12 at 4:32pm
I've never heard of a chicken eating themselves to death. I bring home lots of kitchen scraps too (I work at a restaurant), and the chickens love it. They've never gorged themselves, and I get nice dark yolks from all of the greens they eat. Good luck...
Nikki
*C'mon, get flappy!*
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Nikki
*C'mon, get flappy!*
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post #3 of 13
3/13/12 at 4:36pm

You should be ok Romaine has alot of nutrients and is very good for the chickens as long as thats not all they eat. chickens freerange and eat alot of grass they will be all right.

 

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post #4 of 13
3/13/12 at 6:10pm

I've always provided layer feed as their primary food and used veggies sparingly.  The layer feed provides them all they need so everything else is really just a treat.  In your case I would probably feed them one head of lettuce over several days.

My BYC Page  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mikecnorthwests-chicken-coop

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My BYC Page  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mikecnorthwests-chicken-coop

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post #5 of 13
3/13/12 at 6:48pm

They will overindulge if they feel they won't get any more. If you start providing a regular supply of it, they will probably calm down. I would stick to giving limited amounts...just go with your gut!

 


In other words, if you are worried, you are probably right. An often-quoted amount on BYC is to keep treats to 10% of the diet, although I don't have the original location of the quote.

Read about Egyptian Fayoumis here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316739/egyptian-fayoumis-info and more here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281062/fayoumi-bigawi-qarafa-and-old-egyptian 

Egyptian Fayoumis are one of the world's treasures and are magnificent creatures.

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Read about Egyptian Fayoumis here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316739/egyptian-fayoumis-info and more here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281062/fayoumi-bigawi-qarafa-and-old-egyptian 

Egyptian Fayoumis are one of the world's treasures and are magnificent creatures.

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post #6 of 13
3/13/12 at 7:31pm

Often quoted doesn't necessarily mean correct. Given the opportunity the first thing chickens will go for is "green food". They can't be harmed by romaine lettuce.

APA General Licensed Judge with 50 years experience raising and showing all manner of fowl.

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APA General Licensed Judge with 50 years experience raising and showing all manner of fowl.

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post #7 of 13
3/13/12 at 8:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYREDS View Post

Often quoted doesn't necessarily mean correct.



too true!

Read about Egyptian Fayoumis here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316739/egyptian-fayoumis-info and more here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281062/fayoumi-bigawi-qarafa-and-old-egyptian 

Egyptian Fayoumis are one of the world's treasures and are magnificent creatures.

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Read about Egyptian Fayoumis here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316739/egyptian-fayoumis-info and more here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281062/fayoumi-bigawi-qarafa-and-old-egyptian 

Egyptian Fayoumis are one of the world's treasures and are magnificent creatures.

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post #8 of 13
3/14/12 at 5:10am
Thread Starter 

Interesting, varied responses. Thank you for the replies. This morning the girls look great. Because I am the president of over-analysiers anonymous, I came up with this:

 

1. They eat all day long.  Really, they only take very little breaks from foraging for grasses, flora, fauna and bugs.

2. 3 heads of romaine is not that much for 6 large breed chickens, half a head a bird.

3. They have never over-eaten in the past to my knowledge.  They always have food out all day long.

 

I am very happy I can suppliment their food intake by offering different things for them to eat.  They are very happy and healthy birds.  I am so thankful that our town allows chickens.  They are a great source of entertainment, eggs, instruction (to our children) and overall enjoyment.

Husband, father to a daughter and son.  9 laying hens, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 3 Golden Buffs, 2 Plymouth Partridge Rocks, a Rhode Island Red, and in the brooder: 5 Red Ranger Broilers, 2 White Rocks, 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Americauna, 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Buff Opringtons and a Salmon Faverolle Mystery Chick Rooster!!



http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/670318/my-coop-project-pic-heavy/30#post_9165029
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Husband, father to a daughter and son.  9 laying hens, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 3 Golden Buffs, 2 Plymouth Partridge Rocks, a Rhode Island Red, and in the brooder: 5 Red Ranger Broilers, 2 White Rocks, 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Americauna, 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Buff Opringtons and a Salmon Faverolle Mystery Chick Rooster!!



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post #9 of 13
3/14/12 at 5:14am

Unlimited greens are fine. What you do want to worry about is what they don't eat - you don't want mushy, rotting foods making a mess of your chicken run. My solution is to have a compost area in the chicken run. They can eat what they want, and the rest gets shred by them, turned over, and turned into lovely soil. I've posted photos and directions of how to do this here: http://www.hencam.com/henblog/2012/03/compost-in-the-chicken-run/

 

Terry Golson

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Terry Golson

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post #10 of 13
3/14/12 at 5:27am

I feed my birds greens from the garden everyday. I'm pulling up my winter garden & throw the whole plant in their run. I don't call greens a treat but a necessity. Lots of vitamins in the greens. I do take out the remains of the plants after they eat what they want daily. If greens would hurt the chickens I guarantee mine would be dead by now LOL.

I'm out of eggs. But I know where some brown ones are. I now raise big Ol' Honkin' Bob Whites & Layed back Coturnix. Pray For Rain In Texas!

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I'm out of eggs. But I know where some brown ones are. I now raise big Ol' Honkin' Bob Whites & Layed back Coturnix. Pray For Rain In Texas!

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