Abundance of food!!!!!

[Rt66Kix]

A friend works at a local food pantry. Unfortunately, they have to shut down for a month because they need an entire new HVAC system. She loaded up my car with just about everything you can think of. I WILL GIVE THE FOOD TO HUMANS IN NEED FIRST!!!!!!! However, there are several bags of fruits and vegetables a few days past their sell-by date. Also, potato buds, bread, cakes, pasta, yogurt, canned goods, etc. The chickens get a balanced pellet feed currently. Anything from the food pantry to avoid giving them? Please no judgment...I've spread the word to all my friends about this windfall. But I do have a lot of perishables. TIA

 

[21hens-incharge]

Anything with any mold or rot should not be given.
I avoid highly processed things altogether.

I would avoid breads and things with salt added (many canned veggies have it).

Can you cut up and freeze the fruits and veggies so you can spread out the use?

 

[Rt66Kix]

Some of the things I can freeze. Salad mix, not so much!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yeah...salad and freezer are not going to work at all.
Do you garden or have a compost pile? If all else fails the salad stuff can go there.

Apples? Enough to make apple sauce? That would preserve those for human use.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

A friend works at a local food pantry. Unfortunately, they have to shut down for a month because they need an entire new HVAC system. She loaded up my car with just about everything you can think of. I WILL GIVE THE FOOD TO HUMANS IN NEED FIRST!!!!!!! However, there are several bags of fruits and vegetables a few days past their sell-by date. Also, potato buds, bread, cakes, pasta, yogurt, canned goods, etc. The chickens get a balanced pellet feed currently. Anything from the food pantry to avoid giving them? Please no judgment...I've spread the word to all my friends about this windfall. But I do have a lot of perishables. TIA

Awesome! I work with a local food pantry to pick up their “past usable date” items. Everything from a couple bags to a pickup bed full a week.

The flock will eat what they want and leave the rest. I compost in my run, which makes it easy, but if you don’t I’d give them what they can eat in a day and clean up after.

Greens are a favorite, as is most fruit. I feed breads, crackers, cheese, meats, etc in moderation, although some would not.

Turning landfill-bound food waste into chicken food and/or compost is a huge thing we can do for the planet. If every chicken owner did it, we’d be in a far more sustainable position.

 

[Myrth]

Some of the things I can freeze. Salad mix, not so much!

Make a soup with the salad mix and any other perishables that need to be dealt with quickly. You can freeze it and the chickens will love it. When I have too many extras to feed the birds all at once, I put it all in a big stock pot with just enough water for cooking and simmer it for a bit. They love their “soup.”

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm not sure chickens can have potatoes. Not sure why, but i feel like I've read that somewhere

 

[Chickie friend]

I'm not sure chickens can have potatoes. Not sure why, but i feel like I've read that somewhere

I think its just the green potatoes that they can't have

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I think its just the green potatoes that they can't have

That's could be it.

 

[Myrth]

I think its just the green potatoes that they can't have

yes, exactly. Just like the potatoes that have turned green due to light exposure are bad for humans, they are also bad for chickens. Otherwise, potatoes and potato peelings are very healthy for chickens. Mine get all of our potato peelings and leftover potatoes.