Feeding Table Scrap treats

[nwarren]

Is it necessary to chop table scraps into small chicken bite size pieces? The reason I ask; I broke open a pumpkin for my "Girls" to peck on. They pecked it a little, had a difficult time with the eating pumpkin seeds. Seemed the seeds were to big for them to swallow. They lost interest

I only have 3 chickens, so if I hung even a 1/2 head of cabbage on a string for them to tetherball; how long should the cabbage be left in the run?

 

[sassysarah]

It depends on what you're giving them.
You could leave the cabbage in the run all day but take it out at night so you don't get rodents. Chickens love cabbage! I usually chop up everything I give my chickens just so they don't swallow too big a piece.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depends on the item you're feeding and your birds, I suppose. With something like a pumpkin it should be enough to smash it open and leave it to them to eat as much or as little as they want. Mine will eat melon and squash seeds whole, no problem. Soft foods like many fruits or food that is naturally kind of bite sized (like corn kernels) can be fed as is.

Things that I would chop or tear up would be long, leafy things like greens or grasses that aren't rooted down, since the birds can't easily rip or bite those into smaller pieces.

 

[chickens really]

Table scraps I usually toss only the rice or veggies. I cook spaghetti squash in the microwave for 12 minutes. Just make sure to puncture holes in it. Then I slice in half and feed to my chickens and ducks once cooled.