Bamboo leaves as food....

[Chullicken]

I first read this and was like 'Oi...another Asian study' but then I got to reading all the information and wow, I would of had no idea. Not really sure how available those are where I live though.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I first read this and was like 'Oi...another Asian study' but then I got to reading all the information and wow, I would of had no idea. Not really sure how available those are where I live though.

You might be able to grow Nuda in NH

 

[Chullicken]

You might be able to grow Nuda in NH

Sadly I live on the side of a mountain just south of the White Mountain National forest, On an old farm. I struggle just growing lettuce with the horrible light! I'd love to explore this though, seems interesting.

 

[ErnieBerley]

Do you like starve them or something? My chickens have no interest in bamboo leaves. What breed(s) do you have?

No they have plenty foods and treats - I feed them organic mixes, veggies, nuts and fruits, plus they free range. They just love the bamboo !! 3 Ameraucana hens and 1 rooster, 1 silkie rooster and 2 polish hens

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Cut the tops off of some smaller bamboo this afternoon, and my girls LOVED it! Not sure if the nutritional value is comparable to spring or summer growth or shoots for that matter, but they were very happy with them.

 

[Eggscaping]

Sunchokes?
They like the leaves and the tubers.

We love sunchokes (also called Jerusalem artichokes) but they give us remarkable gas. Cheryl said; "Well no one cares of chickens fart." Which leads me to the inevitable question: Do chickens fart??

 

[CarolynF]

I found this article on-line about a SE Asia Study that reported feeding chickens bamboo leaves will lead to increased growth and improved health. Supposedly, the bamboo nourishes their microbiome (a natural probiotic) and provides nutrients. I have a forest of bamboo and began cutting branches with young growth and feeding it to chickens. They LOVE it - they eat the leaves and then they also hide out in the limbs and climb around as the leaves die, so it's a natural "gym" in their coop run area.

Anyway I thought I'd share this and see if anyone else has experience feeding chickens bamboo.

peace and Happy Holidays !

It’s a big part of Korean Natural Farming, but the information in this thread is even more informational in regard to nutrition.

 

[jlwquilter]

Wow! This is really great to learn! I live in SE Florida and have 3 different types of clumping bamboo growing as screening between the house and the cow pasture on the east side. Buddha Belly, common yellow and I don’t know the third as I got it from the neighbor clearing out a patch they had. Might be common yellow too - I haven’t had a chance to really look/compare it. I’m traveling right now but when I get home after the new year I’m definitely going to put some in the run and see what happens. I have bananas growing in there and they love eating the new growth leaves. And of course the fruit when I give them that.

I tried black bamboo a few years ago but it didn’t make it. The grower I got it from said it’s tough to grow and a slow grower too. I think I’ll give it another try!

Thanks so much for posting this info!

 

[jlwquilter]

But.... now wondering... don’t pandas have to eat all the time and so much because bamboo is poor in nutrition? I sorta remember that but absolutely could have that wrong.

 

[Honey8un]

Hi all, my first post!! We have chickens, goslings and two species of clumping bamboo. I would really warn anyone against running bamboo; that's the way to cause yourself untold misery!
The bamboo the geese like is Slender Weavers Bamboo (Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis'), 6-8m high, culm diameter up to 25mm, hardy to -12°c. It is an excellent screen, wind protection, fast grower – and beautiful. The geese like nibbling on the shoots (very annoying) so I have curtained the lower part off with chicken wire. The chickens probably can't reach many leaves and I haven't tried giving the leaves to them but will try now.

The other species I have in a very tall pot is Bambusa multiplex cv Alphonse Karr. This is beyond the reach of any of them so has been safe but I will now try a few leaves on them all to see what happens. I will report back.