Eating too many weeds?

[SunnyAlberta]

My pullets are 7--13 weeks old. They are not free-ranging. I have been weeding my yard and tossing the greens into their run. Today I noticed that they barely ate any grower feed. Do I need to worry that they aren't getting balanced nutrition because they prefer weeds or should I keep giving them fresh "salad" every day? I do not use any chemicals in my yard (which is why I have more weeds than grass in my lawn).

 

[Erica]

Hi SouthernAlberta,

I think you'll get very different opinions, but my point of view is that what you're doing is fine, and actually better than having them consume 'dead' commercial food only.

It's true that they may be a bit low in some of the amino acids if they're filling up wholly on greens. On the other hands what vitamins etc they do eat will be fresh and wholesome. They'll also be eating living bacteria from soil/grass.

Basically as long as they have ad lid access to a balanced feed I wouldn't be concerned. It's when people start giving bread, lettuce and other low vitamin scraps that I feel worried for the outcome.

This is just my view, I'm sure you'll get plenty of others.

cheers
Erica

 

[hunter109]

it is normal to feed grass to them well i do but mine are hog heads and eat both i get 20 to 23 eggs aday out of my 23 hens
and just about to add another 4 to the flock and maybe biuld a bigger coop for them

 

[mrhall]

I read not to give them poke salad…and that poison ivy and oak was poisonous to them...
so if I free range will they eat these things? should I be concerned? I have tons of fern and other
leafy things as my property is in the woods…I have chick weed which I have been giving them..they love it!

 

[hunter109]

they will not eat what they dont like they will pick through it

 

[chfite]

I toss weeds into the run from time to time throughout the day. At odd moments, the tender, young leaves of poke salad are tossed in as well. The chickens like it and eat it with gusto. We don't feed the older, reddish leaves or berries.

In general, they like the weeds. There is plenty of appropriate, layer feed available all the time. Some weeds they don't eat. We quit throwing those in. They prefer the tender, winter weeds to the ones later in the year.

I don't feed them grass clippings because I am not going to rake the yard for them. Their favorite plants are the wild tomatoes that grow all around the runs. Once the tomatoes start producing, they are fed to the chickens regularly. The girls love them.

Chris