Best greens for chickens in the winter?

[Chickassan]

I planted turnips for mine in random places, they take the cold very well and even regrow in the winter.

 

[igorsMistress]

My flock likes turnip and mustard greens. Broccoli slaw too.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I can't wait for the miner's lettuce to come up in the spring. It's absolutely everywhere around the chicken coop and across the property. It's native I think to this area.

And after months of ridiculous heat and crunchy dry land, it's green!!

I've never heard of miner's lettuce. Just looked it up - pretty sure we don't have that here. I was making suet for the wild birds and put some in small containers to give the chickens on occasion. I put a lot of fruit, nuts, seeds in it. They must have liked it because it was gone when I went to lock up for the night.

 

[BockBockChick]

My flock likes turnip and mustard greens. Broccoli slaw too.

I'm happy to learn they like mustard greens, as I've recently purchased seeds to grow for my girls.

 

[igorsMistress]

I'm happy to learn they like mustard greens, as I've recently purchased seeds to grow for my girls.

They’ll eat almost anything green tbh. Collards, beet greens, lettuce, carrot tops, herbs. Shoot the weeds out of the shade garden will do in a pinch. They love dandelion which you can buy seed for too.

 

[TooCheep]

Mine get fodder (young sprouted plants) in late fall and winter. I grow a combination of wheat and barley seed until they are ~3" tall and look like grass. I have a standard rotation of sprouting trays for the purpose and the girls love the fresh greens every day.

 

[theoldchick]

I give them thawed frozen mixed veggies.

 

[Chickie McChickerson]

Good morning. My 3 1/2 week old babies love love love apples. Do ok with grapes. Are they old enough to try the barley grass? What about the mixed veggies?

 

[TooCheep]

Good morning. My 3 1/2 week old babies love love love apples. Do ok with grapes. Are they old enough to try the barley grass? What about the mixed veggies?

I have two concerns with this:
1- Are you giving them "chick grit"? It is very small rocks (larger than sand) which they need to help grind the veggies. Adult chickens use a larger grit (pebble sized) for the same purpose. Free ranging chickens can get them from the ground, but those in a more restricted setup generally need commercial grit to properly digest anything other than commercial feed (which breaks down in water).
2- I generally start chicks on veggies using a clump of grass/dirt from the outside. This allows them to chomp off smaller pieces of greens and get inoculated to local microbes in the process. if you try either barley grass or veggies, watch closely that they can break off pieces. For example, trying to swallow an entire segment of green bean might cause a problem. Adults wouldn't have a problem with those.

 

[Chickie McChickerson]

I have two concerns with this:
1- Are you giving them "chick grit"? It is very small rocks (larger than sand) which they need to help grind the veggies. Adult chickens use a larger grit (pebble sized) for the same purpose. Free ranging chickens can get them from the ground, but those in a more restricted setup generally need commercial grit to properly digest anything other than commercial feed (which breaks down in water).
2- I generally start chicks on veggies using a clump of grass/dirt from the outside. This allows them to chomp off smaller pieces of greens and get inoculated to local microbes in the process. if you try either barley grass or veggies, watch closely that they can break off pieces. For example, trying to swallow an entire segment of green bean might cause a problem. Adults wouldn't have a problem with those.

We had some microgreens ready to eat so I just gave them a clump of those along with their chick grit. They are certainly not as excited about them as they are the apples but it is entertaining them picking off pieces and running from each other. If I am giving them treats (veggies, fruits) should I make grit available at all times or just along with their treats?
They are still in my house and have no access to dirt yet. Thank You!