Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[rural mouse]

Whipping cream isn’t good for the chooks

Ok. Ice cream then.

 

[bgmathteach]

I’m thinking, I will just cut the pumpkin in half horizontally and serve raw, seeds and all. But I’m doing research first.

They will like that. Or...you can cut strips of the shell off. (Like you were partially 'peeling' it) and hang it. They will go after it like a cabbage tetherball (once they figure it out)

I have also partially cooked them (whole, either in microwave or oven). Not so that is it soft, like we would eat, but not rock hard either - somewhere in between. Then hang that, again with strips peeled (about 1.5 - 2 inch wide strips, & depending on size of pumpkin, 3 - 6 of them spaced around the pumpkin..top to bottom)

My chooks love them! I also do the same with butternut squash...nothing left but the skin...and not even all of that (when I partially cook it) If I don't cook it, I cut it in half vertically & hang like a cabbage tetherball, too! (large pumpkins I might cut in 3rds or quarters & hang if not cooked)

Pumkin is good for them, lots of fiber and nutrients (assuming grown on nutrient rich soil) Contains: vitamins A, B1, B6, and C, copper, fiber, folate, and manganese, and Pumpkin also provides calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Supposedly, pumpkin seeds (and other members of the cucurbitacaea family) are also a dewormer. Seems they have a moderate effect on certain species of worms common to poultry. That said, it would take quite a few pumpkins to get the needed amount of seeds into your flock for efficacy...over multiple days.

https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/veterinary/abstract.htm?id=24644

However, my take is: even if you only have a slight reduction in worm load (if they have worms...which they most likely do if they free range regularly), it doesn't hurt them, especially during molt time and going into winter. I grew some pumpkins (i.e. 'free' food for chooks), and they enjoy the pumpkin tether ball, so win, win, win

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you. So, just jump on it and smash it? I can do that!

Yes, pretty much. Our ground is soft and smooshy from recent rains and the punkins I got were small and tough, so it took some doing. Kinda amusing to watch The Man working at it, but he got the job done!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ok. Ice cream then.

Yogurt!

 

[featherhead007]

Yogurt!

My chooks get yogurt almost every day. Plain Greek low fat yogurt.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

truffles is offically gone everyone! Heres a last photo i took of him. View attachment 2862753Love truffles, going to 16,(soon 20) ladies all to himself, freeranged with no roos.

Enjoy your new home and hens, Truffles!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My chooks get yogurt almost every day. Plain Greek low fat yogurt.

Excellent! Do you make it yourself?

 

[micstrachan]

The Princesses are now in full-on molt. Those Roadrunners are densely packed in the fluff department - there is Roadrunner fluff everywhere, but apart from one feather out of place you really cannot tell to look at them.
I saw Diana eating feathers off the ground. Is that normal? I assume she wants the protein. I have given them sardines and some cat food and I have some stewing beef in the freezer I could make up for them. I could also get a hold of some venison as the hunting season has started.
Any advice welcome.

I personally would offer some extra protein. There is no way around the feather eating, as far as I can tell.

 

[micstrachan]

truffles is offically gone everyone! Heres a last photo i took of him. View attachment 2862753Love truffles, going to 16,(soon 20) ladies all to himself, freeranged with no roos.

Bye, Truffles! Enjoy your new home and tribe!

 

[micstrachan]

I bought a pumpkin for the chooks, but now, how do I serve it to them?

I used to bake small organic sugar pie pumpkins WHOLE for the chickens and serve it after it had cooled. It would be soft enough to break apart into chunjs with my hands. Though I’ve heard of other flocks tearing a raw pumpkin to shreds.