Garden scraps

[Altairsky]

My hens are carnivorous beasts. I let them roam my vegetable garden because they leave my vegetables alone. They especially dislike watermelons and melons.
They started eating a few raspberries lately, and they tasted a single tomato. They ate one onion which is baffling because chickens don't like that stuff. Maybe they needed it to get rid of parasites or something, like when cats eat grass.

 

[Possum-Pie]

My hens are carnivorous beasts. I let them roam my vegetable garden because they leave my vegetables alone. They especially dislike watermelons and melons.
They started eating a few raspberries lately, and they tasted a single tomato. They ate one onion which is baffling because chickens don't like that stuff. Maybe they needed it to get rid of parasites or something, like when cats eat grass.

Ok, chickens OBVIOUSLY are picky eaters. Some love some things, while others won't touch it. Perhaps it's a craving thing-- they are deficient in something, they will eat it. Mine eat only two things consistently--berries and cracked corn. I've read that cracked corn is "junk food" for chickens, but any time I throw it out into the run, they eat every little piece. I gave them tomato guts today, I'm still canning tomato puree from our garden, and they do always eat the pulp/seeds from that. I'd LOVE to reduce my chicken feed bill by giving them excess from the garden this time of year. It's never wasted-we do have compost bins that we use for soil next year in the garden, but I'd love to feed them at least half of their diet from the excess food in the garden...

 

[igorsMistress]

Ok, chickens OBVIOUSLY are picky eaters. Some love some things, while others won't touch it. Perhaps it's a craving thing-- they are deficient in something, they will eat it. Mine eat only two things consistently--berries and cracked corn. I've read that cracked corn is "junk food" for chickens, but any time I throw it out into the run, they eat every little piece. I gave them tomato guts today, I'm still canning tomato puree from our garden, and they do always eat the pulp/seeds from that. I'd LOVE to reduce my chicken feed bill by giving them excess from the garden this time of year. It's never wasted-we do have compost bins that we use for soil next year in the garden, but I'd love to feed them at least half of their diet from the excess food in the garden...

That’s really not particularly healthy for them and giving a lot of treats will dilute the nutrition of their feed.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Can I butt in to ask about spinach? I know it can be a calcium binder so I don’t intentionally feed it to them but they steal some when I toss it to my pig. Should I not let them?

 

[Altairsky]

Can I butt in to ask about spinach? I know it can be a calcium binder so I don’t intentionally feed it to them but they steal some when I toss it to my pig. Should I not let them?

Let them eat what they want. If it's not styrofoam, rubber bands, or metal screws it's good.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Let them eat what they want. If it's not styrofoam, rubber bands, or metal screws it's good.

Thank you!

 

[Possum-Pie]

That’s really not particularly healthy for them and giving a lot of treats will dilute the nutrition of their feed.

There is a difference between garden supplemental feed and "treats" . think about giving your kids ice cream and Pizza for supper every day. there is little nutrition. BUT chickens were originally free-range birds in south-east Asia where NO body gave them balanced diets. They ate what gave them the best chance of reproduction/survival. The scientific balanced feed offered today are great, but chickens ate for a hundred-thousand years without human feed...They can live and thrive with a balanced garden waste diet if carefully mixed.

 

[Altairsky]

Industrial ultra processed food is no good for humans therefore industrial processed feed is no good for chickens. The best and healthiest food is always a natural balanced diet, both for humans and animals.

 

[Possum-Pie]

Industrial ultra processed food is no good for humans therefore industrial processed feed is no good for chickens. The best and healthiest food is always a natural balanced diet, both for humans and animals.

Agreed. Unfortunately, many chicken owners have no way or money to feed their birds the "optimal" diet. Processed foods are a fair alternative. However, garden scraps are often a healthy, organic alternative. I know many people don't have large gardens, but if you have enough room for chickens, you have enough room for a moderate garden.

 

[Altairsky]

Agreed. Unfortunately, many chicken owners have no way or money to feed their birds the "optimal" diet.

I'm lucky enough to buy my food at the local mill. They make a chicken seed mix with the scrap cereals that don't meet the requirements for human consumption. The price is cheap. I add dried peas that I buy at the grocery store and some pigeon mix to add extra protein. Cheap fish or minced meat once a week for extra amino acids, oyster shell and that's it. Balanced natural diet.