Free food that we all have at hand

[rooster-red]

Quote:
No argument, and not intended as a jab at anybody,just thought I'd point that out because I've been feeding my flock cabbage for quite a while, but I only give them a head about once a month. I suspect that if they were fed cabbage often then it might cause problems.

I agree with them listing all potential hazzards but some are like statements on sodas containing saccrine being known to cause cancer in studies done with mice, the thing they don't tell you is for you to receive the equivilent dosage that the mice were given, you'd have to drink 800 sodas a day.

In the end its up to individuals to learn as much as possible, take all factors into consideration, and go with what they feel is best.

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

Yeah, mine get cabbage alot and are still kickin, perhaps a bit more feisty...

 

[bills]

Chickweed is toxic to chickens?? I thought that it, of all things was a green that was relished by chickens, and regularly devoured.

And here I had set my hopes on the chickens taking care of this pesty weed, that abounds in my gardens. Drat!

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
From The MERCK Veterinary Manual (Poultry Nutrition) :
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206916.htm&hide=1
"Iodine deficiency results in a decreased output of thyroxine from the thyroid gland, which in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce and release increased amounts of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). This increased production of TSH results in stimulation, with subsequent enlargement of the thyroid gland, termed a goiter. This enlarged gland is an attempt by the thyroid to increase the secretory surface of the thyroid follicles by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of these follicles.

Lack of thyroid activity or inhibition of the thyroid by administration of thiouracil or thiourea causes hens to cease laying and become obese, and also results in the growth of abnormally long, lacy feathers. Administration of thyroxine or iodinated casein reverses the effects on egg production, with eggshell quality returning to normal. The iodine content of an egg is markedly influenced by the hen’s intake of iodine. Eggs from a breeder fed an iodine-deficient diet will exhibit reduced hatchability and delayed yolk sac absorption. Rapeseed meal and, to a lesser extent, canola meal contain goitrogens that cause thyroid enlargement in young birds. Iodine deficiency in poultry is easily prevented by supplementing the feed with as little as 0.35 mg of iodine/kg.

 

[digitS']

Quote:
Chickweed, normally growing, should NOT be toxic. The website cited by Churkenduse said that "plant may contain toxic levels of nitrates."

Many other plants can accumulate nitrates. These include many livestock forage such as alfalfa, sudangrass, and corn.

Nitrate levels can go up and down in plants. Stress in the field - drought and flooding can be the triggers. Spraying the weeds with herbicides can bring up nitrate levels – the lesson there is don’t feed your hens plants that have been sprayed with herbicides!

Heck, we could be more gainfully concerned about the melamine, dioxin, and arsenic levels in commercial poultry feed.

Steve

 

[Churkenduse]

Rooster Red wrote the following


Chickens do not have thyroids, so cabbage can't affect them in this way.

Check it out for yourself.

Well Rooster Red I did check it out and as it turns out chickens do indeed have thyroids and can get goiters:
Read what the ( Am J Physiol Gastrointest LiverPhysiol) has to say

(Dietary iodine and accumulation of radioiodine in thyroids of chickens
WS Newcomer
Groups of hatchling white leghorn cockerels were fed a basic, semisynthetic low-iodine diet to which various amounts of iodide were added: 0 up to 100 microgram I/g feed. Growth rates were unaffected by the range of dietary iodine content. A transitory goiter occurred only in the group fed the basic low-I diet. Half-life of 131I in the thyroid increased directly and fractional turnover rate inversely with increase of dietary iodine)

This forum is a wealth of informaiton which I have been enjoying since I joined. But when it comes to technical things you should make sure you are passing on the right info before making other people look like they do not know what they are talking about. I never said cabbage would kill or even cause goiter I just said it was toxic and showed proof.

My dog ate 1/2 box of raisins, toxic to dogs they say, he didn't die he didn't even get sick he wanted more but would I feed it to him? No it's toxic. Next time he might not be so lucky. Now remember to that what you feed your hens ultimately is eaten by you.
Now I am going to join in those mindless games we love to hate.

 

[hcammack]

my dog ate 2 pounds of choclate cause we didnt know she could unzip bags and she is still with us 6 years after she did make a trip to the vets though

 

[dlhunicorn]

Ultimately these are guidelines and many of the listed plants , if eaten on occasion by your birds will not result in sudden death ... many of the "toxins" are cumulative"in their danger and toxicity in your birds...many factors play a role.

 

[Churkenduse]

dlhunicorn......You are right I never said to anyone that these foods are going to kill, I said they were toxic and they are. As you say it probably won't kill them but you wouldn't want to feed it to them on a regular basis. Hey the air we breath is toxic but we can't go around holding our breath.
I think we all made our points, thank you.

May the closeness of friends, the comfort of home, and the unity of our nation, renew your spirits this new year.

 

[Kaneke]

I just wonder if the "accumulation of nitrates" occurs where a large amount of fertilizer has been used in conjunction with the plants ??

I was going to say that clover would be a good crop to plant, since it increases soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the soil surrounding its roots

which suggests to me, feed the clover leaves and stems to the chickens ...

does that make sense ?

Candy