Feeding Bok Choy to Hens and Pullets

[mark1guy]

Is it ok to be feeding my Hens Bok Choy on an all you can eat basis? I have Bok Choy gone to seed in my garden and rather than just compost it I have been feeding it to my hens and just recently starting giving it to my 7 week old pullets at treats. I offer 2/3 of a grocery bag twice a day and they distroy it. Mash is available on an as want as eat basis. There are 9 birds in question.At present the birds are 15 weeks old.

Does anyone see any problem ?

Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would not give them too much of anything on too consistent a basis. If they can clean it up in 10 to 20 minutes they'll be fine. More than that it might become a problem.

Now dont panic. Bok Choi contains something that can affect a human's thyroid gland. I don't remember the chemical name but there was a news story recently about a woman that ate about 5 pounds a day for a few weeks and had a serious problem. Not sure what it would do to chickens. Bok choi is not the only thing that can affect you if you eat a tremendous amount of it. Reasonable amounts won't hurt you or them, it is actually good for them. I feed mine bok choi when it is available. But too much of anything is a potential problem.

 

[bigoakhunter]

Mine get bok choy and love it. Just watch that you don't give too much. They should be fine.

 

[SmittenChicken]

My chickens love bok choy and do just fine with it. We had a bunch go to seed too, and we'd give them maybe 3 or 4 whole sections every day along with all the bug-eaten turnip greens, chard and kale (split between 13 chickens).
I love having chickens to clean up whatever we're not going to eat from the garden. It's so great to watch them enjoying something that would have gone to waste otherwise, knowing it will (someday?) be converted into delicious eggs.