Broccoli????

[ThornyRidge]

I was in the grocery the other day and found a nice bag of broccoli (fresh/uncooked) in the produce section marked down.. it is a package designed to steam in the microwave for a minute or so.. I personally am not fond of this vegetable but was thinking about giving it to my chickens as a special winter treat. Has anyone fed broccoli.. and if so should I steam this first or ok to just take out of the bag and throw in pen/coop. These are smaller type pieces not a large head of broccoli.. seems like the small clumps broken off a head.

 

[fldiver97]

I have done both....they peck a little at uncooked but seen to like steamed cut up broccoli with rice or a little oatmeal so much better (don't ask.... they are just slightly spoiled...). They also like their squash and pumpkin cut in half and baked....it's just not as good when I just cut it in half and toss it in the run..... Needless to say, whatever they snatch themselves out of the vegetable garden is devoured without question!

 

[LizzyJo]

Go for it. I wonder though if it would make the eggs taste funny.

(Two cannibals were eating a clown.One said to the other, "Does this taste funny?")

Sorry.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

We have done both also. Our girls seem to like the steamed better too. Maybe because they can eat it better than the hard uncooked bits.?

 

[Darlasmum]

Mine like brocolli- esp easy to eat if held for them or put in a wire suet box.

 

[redhen]

I feed them both cooked and raw...
but since its winter time...anything i bring out to them is warmed up...

 

[RuffledFeathers]

My spoiled hens get 1 large head of raw broccoli nearly every day. They will spend the day picking off chunks of the florets first and by the end of the day, the entire stem is GONE. Never any leftovers, never cooked, easy green treat with so many WONDERFUL nutrients. Just toss into the run!

 

[biddyboo]

What our hens liked best this fall was the leaf debris left in the garden after the heads of broccoli were harvested. They free range and would head for the stand of Swiss Chard I left for them, the last stems of spinach, and the huge green broccoli leaves. I had nothing left in my "greens" garden to throw on the compost pile. Ours have been disinterested in the broccoli heads, so taking a hint from this thread, I'll try steaming some and offering that--especially on some of our frosty winter mornings. ~G

 

[peachlover]

Funny subject to me. One year I planted about sixty broccoli plants to feed my chickens and turkeys. They hated it, would not even peck at it twice. Sixty plants is a ton of broccoli. Do not let my experience stop you, experiment and have fun. I am sure it is packed with great nutrients.

 

[featherbaby]

Quote:
The broccoli LEAVES are much more nutritious than the heads.....so you are doing them a big favor.