Another NEWBY question about feeding...

[E-Chick]

So, our lil' flock of 14 is still in the coop and run until the portable one is built soon.

If I want to give them some yard and garden greens and weeds, do I just toss them in their run whole? Or do I chop it up, or what???

Some of the things here that I think might appeal to the chickens are:
- lettuces
- parsley
- cilantro
- wild sage
- wild mustard
- how about rosemary?

Do chickens eat any garden greens??? I also have carrots, cabbage, and squash growing.

I KNOW not to give them onions.

What do YOU do when giving greens? Thanks in advance

 

[E-Chick]

I should mention that half of the girls have beaks that were somehow dulled/cut/rounded by whomever had them before me. The don't seem to get as much of the greens as the others do when I toss them in whole.

 

[Davaroo]

Bundle the greens and hang them so the birds have to strecth a bit to get to them.

They probably wont mess with the rosemary or sage too much, but the succulent cilantro and lettuce will probably get them stirred up.

Ill bet dinner is pretty yummy at your house.

 

[chirpchirp]

yes, i was wondering the same thing about what greens to give chickens, i have 25 coming in june and a HUGE garden with everything possible growing in it (i have my work cut out for me this summer!). i thought also about the lettuces/spinach/parsley/cilantro. i planted a ton of sunflowers so i can hang and dry the heads and then hang them in the coop thoughout the winter for entertainment and nutrition..... more greens from - beets/radishes/cabbage/broccoli i think they would love it all, but how good is it for them?! i also have a bunch of edible flower plants - nasturtium/borage/japanese chrysanthemum. i think they like flowers dont they? i am very interested to see what people give their feathered friends.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
All of these are good. You can grow sunflowers around the chicken yard and they offer good shade in the summer and protection from birds of prey. Then just knock the heads down for the birds to eat.
Fresh green feeds are great supplement to the chickens diet.
Cabbage kale and beet greens are especially good.

GO here and read about how one made a success of it:
http://www.archive.com/details/eggfarmingincali00weekrich