Bamboo leaves as food....

[HenOnAJuneBug]

So maybe any grass?

I've never read of such. I didn't know this, but apparently sugarcane has the same issue.

Production of potentially hazardous respirable silica airborne particulate from the burning of sugarcane
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1352231008002756

 

[aart]

I've never read of such.

Well, when you said 'straw'.....I figured any grass.

 

[aart]

Production of potentially hazardous respirable silica airborne particulate from the burning of sugarcane
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1352231008002756

"This pilot study shows that potentially toxic particles could be released during sugarcane burning and reinforces the need for further study into the emissions and re-suspension of ash from the burning of biomass." ....sounds like it could be from burning of any plant matter. Did you have access to entire study or assume bamboo was included from the abstract linked?

 

[seasong]

How does everyone feed their chickens bamboo leaves? Leave the leaves on the stalk? Strip off the leaves? Chop leaves into pieces? I cut off some branches and threw them on the ground, but the chickens, though interested, couldn't pull off the leaves because the branch would move every time they pecked at it.

I pick young new leaves and cut up small with scissors for the babies and mix w/ brown rice.

I haven't continued To feed them the leaves after the 3 day start.

Our flocks roost in at night, but free range on 3 acres during the day. We have lots of kinds of clumping bamboos. I don't notice them particularly interested in the bamboo during their day.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

"This pilot study shows that potentially toxic particles could be released during sugarcane burning and reinforces the need for further study into the emissions and re-suspension of ash from the burning of biomass." ....sounds like it could be from burning of any plant matter. Did you have access to entire study or assume bamboo was included from the abstract linked?

I think that's just due to the weird way scientists write sometimes. See if this link works for the full study

https://www.researchgate.net/public...arcane/link/5acdbcdeaca2723a33400672/download

 

[808chickie]

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!

I thought my girls were the only crazy ones eating banana leaves! Good to know it's not just them.

 

[808chickie]

Ernie - your original request. I study Chi global Natural Farming - Korean Natural farming methods. We are taught to feed baby chicks brown rice and bamboo leaves, supplemented with cooked egg yolk for first 3 days of life. It is our practice.
I am in Hawaii and cant speak to the kind of bamboos for other climates.

I'm in Hawai'i too! How do you do your KNF? I've been looking into it but, I'm not sure where to start. thx!

 

[jlwquilter]

I've never read of such. I didn't know this, but apparently sugarcane has the same issue.

Production of potentially hazardous respirable silica airborne particulate from the burning of sugarcane
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1352231008002756

Awesome. Live in sugar cane central. When they burn it we get ash everywhere. Another reason to not love that time of year.

 

[jlwquilter]

I thought my girls were the only crazy ones eating banana leaves! Good to know it's not just them.

I know I read that chickens will strip/take down of full sized banana plant. While I haven’t seen them to do that (yet!) they did totally consume 4 cavendish baby plants I planted in their run. I didn’t expect that so hadn’t thought to fence them off. Lesson learned. I planted larger babies of an Asian variety next and the girls left them alone - until new shoots started. They eat the new levels plenty but as the parent is well established it’s not an issue. It just keeps putting out new babies. I really like the overhead shelter and shade the banana stand is giving them.

also, on the plant topic - the hens love fire bush too. They will strip a plant of leaves within a day. And the berries in the late fall off the fire bush is yummy for them too. I’ve planted several in their run. Cheap too as any stick broken off the plant will root very quickly so only need to buy one plant for a few bucks and make as many as you want.

 

[808chickie]

Awesome. Live in sugar cane central. When they burn it we get ash everywhere. Another reason to not love that time of year.

In Hawai'i, we call it black snow. I used to hate the smell and the mess but, I kind of miss it now. Hated it when it fell on our laundry. As soon as we smelled it, we had to run outside to take all the laundry off the line.