Boredom Busters

[makcar]

Hi all! I was thinking about how I have been giving my chickens cucumbers, squash, watermelon, etc. to keep them occupied in the coop run. I was wondering if anyone had reached out to their local grocer to see if they could get the old/bruised vegetables and fruit to give to their chickens? The food would be getting thrown away anyway so why not make some chickens happy?!

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts

 

[leighks]

I haven’t asked but we have a local produce market which has a shelf of reduced produce- it’s still good but imperfect- slightly bruised peaches, apples, bananas, just starting to wilt lettuce, things like that- at a really reduced price. Maybe see if any of the markets near you have this.

The shelf is in the back and slightly hidden so most buyers don’t see it and go for the new fresh (more expensive!) stuff, so you may have to look around. Good luck!

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I was wondering if anyone had reached out to their local grocer to see if they could get the old/bruised vegetables and fruit to give to their chickens?

I used to work at a grocery store when I was a younger person, and there was always someone (or multiple someones) that would come by and pick up the produce scraps.

Some times it's "first come first served", some times the produce manager saves them for friend or family, some times they are saved for another employee that has livestock, some times the store has a policy that doesn't allow it to be given away.... you'll just have to stop in and ask.