Fastest growing plants that a chicken will eat?

[sonomacluck]

Too much "Green Food" will require you to buy more of the EXPENSIVE commercial chicken feed to make up for the protein and vitamin deficiency in your hens' diet.

You are absolutely on the mark with this comment, we haven't mentioned nutrition much here. Lazy Gardener suggested a good book as well I will check that out.

I've been inspired by KikiGirl's comparison chart of commercial feeds. I have started a gsheet in the same fashion, listing all the plants mentioned so far on this thread.

Information will include average growth rate, characteristics, and nutrition information, as well as any other footnotes that have been mentioned by posters here, and info I can find elsewhere.

If anyone is interested in contributing to the sheet, please message me your email address, and I will grant edit access to you.

 

[BamburghFarms]

Following too

 

[inbreeder]

Hi all - I'm looking for 2 - 4, or more, recommendations on plants that grow quickly (trying to fill cylinder of chicken wire 4' high, 4' diameter. I was inspired by the ideas that I read in other threads, where people fill boxes of mesh and let the plants grow out past the wire, so the chickens can feed at it.

Since all the meshes we get come in rolls, I would like to experiment with cylinders of green instead, much easier to shape than in a box-like shape. From the research I've done, most people make squares but I am about circles of wire.

GM from south Mississippi, to answer your question I went to the source, I opened my garden gate and the first place the chickens went to was the green's, we have a mix of mustard, collard's and turnip green's, they did not show a preference but ate them all, I mean ALL, down to the nub, then they went to the tomato's I left on the vine but they did not touch the green's just the mator's, some found the spinach, some passed the spinach by, they won't touch the okra, bell peppers, sweet potato leaves, that's all I have left in the garden, but the greens as we call them, got devoured !! Hope this helps some.

 

[geina]

Red Clover and Alfalfa would be on list to try.

Oats the seed from a feed store I grow it for my babies they love it

 

[AHoags]

Hi all - I'm looking for 2 - 4, or more, recommendations on plants that grow quickly (trying to fill cylinder of chicken wire 4' high, 4' diameter. I was inspired by the ideas that I read in other threads, where people fill boxes of mesh and let the plants grow out past the wire, so the chickens can feed at it.

Since all the meshes we get come in rolls, I would like to experiment with cylinders of green instead, much easier to shape than in a box-like shape. From the research I've done, most people make squares but I am about circles of wire.

I've planted a series of herbs (thyme, parsley, mint, oregano, etc) for my chickens and they don't touch them. They do, however, love spinach. Maybe you could try spinach. It's easy to grow. Good luck!

 

[anna-newhampshire]

Well I'm having difficulty controlling my envy lol because my quails only eat cooked greens (kale).
They accept cooked green beans too but I'm wondering if I should try raw green beans.

 

[Rennifer]

I have a mixed flock of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and now quail. They have separate coops but free range together and I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for plants that would please the whole flock?

Thank you!

 

[AHoags]

I have a mixed flock of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and now quail. They have separate coops but free range together and I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for plants that would please the whole flock?

Thank you!

Well I'm having difficulty controlling my envy lol because my quails only eat cooked greens (kale).
They accept cooked green beans too but I'm wondering if I should try raw green beans.

You have some particular birds! I don't know much about quail, but my chickens (and ducks) love raw cherry tomatoes more than anything. When they see me enter the garden gate, they come running and make plenty of noise until I give them their treats. Maybe you could try tomatoes with your quails.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

My chickens won’t eat leafy greens. I’ve tried everything but leafy greens are a big NO. Anything with seeds their all for.

 

[Rennifer]

Does anybody know if duckweed is safe for all kinds of birds? Particularly chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and quail. I saw someone mention kudzu but is it safe for the birds to eat? We're in the south eastern plains of colorado and we have trouble getting anything to grow/ slice because we hit -20 to 110 just in the last year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.