Eggs aren't as tasty and other feed questions

[bibliophile birds]

Quote:
stores almost always dump things at the same time on certain days. i would hit those dumpsters like mad!

 

[bibliophile birds]

feeding bread or a lot of extra grains is going to significantly drop your protein levels. be careful. those things are good for treats, but watch your nutrition.

 

[countrygirl57]

we buy cabbage by the sack, & we cut it in half, put a small hole through the top , & hang them from their outside roose. This gives them exercise & keeps them warm on colder days. they also get any leftover veggies & fruit.

Next year I'm planning on collecting all the leftover pumpkins & freeze them. My chickies just love them.

 

[AnnesChicks]

I agree, it is the green in their diet that adds to the flavor and color of your eggs.

Two things I do to help boost the "greens" in their diet at no added cost: keep a chicken treat bowl in your kitchen for all fruit and veggie trimmings, leftover cooked veggies, and any other food scraps they might like (which is just about anything). They happily eat all the trimmings, the seeds from squashes, bell peppers seeds and cores, apple peels/cores, radish leaves, strawberry tops, lettuce trimmings...you get the picture. Along with any other leftovers or slightly stale food stuff you may have. The only thing they haven't eaten is celery, I think it is just to hard for them. I take it out to them every morning and it's a race to see what goodies I have.

Look to your garden and yard for more greens, anytime I weed I dump my bucket into their run. Also let a little portion (no fertilizer or chemicals) of your lawn near your coop go, they'll happily eat as much grass, dandilions, clover and more as you can toss to them. Plant a patch of leaf lettuce, bok choy and so on, they'll eat this tender greens with great gusto.

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
I'm curious - what's in the core or stem of a cabbage that they can't eat. Mine love romain lettuce and particularly go for the stem part first.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

If you want natural, give them free choice of baled Alfalfa.
This will give them the greens they need.
Store bought eggs taste the way they do, because the chickens are fed soy and corn, along with suppliments.
Easily replicated at home, because the same stuff is sold to the private poultry consumer.

Stear clear from feeding them bakery waste. Find them lots of "fresh vege compost" to eat. make sure there is no raw potato or onion in it though.
Your neighbors might be willing to save their kitchen scraps for you.

 

[cybercat]

Start your own chicken feed garden. Kale and spinach are great for this. If I had to buy veggis for mine I would not have chickens.