Can there be too much greens?

[Hedgeland Farms]

I am glad you asked this!! If I may ask an add on question @aart

I feed my 19 girls a 5 gallon bucket of weeds and grass at the end of their day...

They always always have such full crops (I do not touch but I can see the bulge under their feathers) I was wondering if it's too much...
They don't ever eat it all, and are on all flock mixed with layer. OS and ES on the side

It's their super full crops that got me wondering

ETA they do not free range

 

[aart]

I am glad you asked this!! If I may ask an add on question @aart

I feed my 19 girls a 5 gallon bucket of weeds and grass at the end of their day...

They always always have such full crops (I do not touch but I can see the bulge under their feathers) I was wondering if it's too much...
They don't ever eat it all, and are on all flock mixed with layer. OS and ES on the side

It's their super full crops that got me wondering

ETA they do not free range

IME, feeding a big piles of weeds to confined birds can create gorging and impacted crops.
IMO, they should go to roost with a crop full of more nutritious feed.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

IME, feeding a big piles of weeds to confined birds can create gorging and impacted crops.
IMO, they should go to roost with a crop full of more nutritious feed.

Thank you..
They all have access to unlimited feed throughout the day, I just thought maybe since they dont free range they'd benefit from the stuff they'd eat if they did...


Do you think feeding some earlier in the day would be better? Or not at all since they dont free range??

 

[aart]

Do you think feeding some earlier in the day would be better?

Yes. .....and not so much and not every day. Maybe one gallon once or twice a week.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Yes. .....and not so much and not every day. Maybe one gallon once or twice a week.

Thanks so much!!!
They love those weeds so much!! Lol

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

If you’re concerned about diluting protein, you can get 30% game bird starter and use it as a supplement/treat/scratch.

 

[aart]

If you’re concerned about diluting protein, you can get 30% game bird starter and use it as a supplement/treat/scratch.

It's not just about diluting protein but the other vital minerals/vitamins/amino acids when over all feed consumption is replaced by 'treats'.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

It's not just about diluting protein but the other vital minerals/vitamins/amino acids when over all feed consumption is replaced by 'treats'.

I don’t much buy into the whole “anything but chicken feed is a treat” thing, but yes, you need balance.

 

[NanaK]

Thank you..
They all have access to unlimited feed throughout the day, I just thought maybe since they dont free range they'd benefit from the stuff they'd eat if they did...


Do you think feeding some earlier in the day would be better? Or not at all since they dont free range??

You could build something similar to this and transplant some lawn/weeds into it or plant grass seed (make sure it's not treated).
They will be able to nip off the tops but hardware cloth prevents them from scratching up the soil. They won't get long strands either. I also give stuff from the veggie garden.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

You could build something similar to this and transplant some lawn/weeds into it or plant grass seed (make sure it's not treated).
They will be able to nip off the tops but hardware cloth prevents them from scratching up the soil. They won't get long strands either. I also give stuff from the veggie garden.View attachment 3232141

This is GENIUS!!! I love it!