garden weeds

[HSerChickLady]

I have been feeding my hens the weeds from our garden-they're unsprayed. They like them since it gives them something to pick through as well as a snack. Is there any harm in doing this long term though? My girls don't get to free range due to predators so this makes a free entertainment system for them as long as it's healthy. Thanks!

 

[Percheron chick]

A lot of people give their chickens weeds. You can also dump your grass clippings or start a compost pile in the run to give them something to scratch in and a place for bugs and grubs.

 

[HSerChickLady]

Great, thanks. We dump grass clippings in there too when hubby mows. They get canning scraps too during the summer.

 

[jennfurtrombly]

I get REALLY tall grass and weeds that grow along my garden fence. I pull them all every two weeks and my chickens LOVE scratching through it and chewing it up. They would be eating grass and weeds if they were free range so I see no harm.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I have to disagree with the above posters: giving chickens long grass clippings and long weeds can cause impacted crop. Cut or break up the weeds first. Grass clippings shouldn't be fed. Also, never feed buttercup, yew, mushrooms or fungi as these are toxic.

Best wishes

 

[HSerChickLady]

Yeah i don't do long unless it can be picked apart easily. Our grass clippings are short, like 1.5-2 inches is all, so those are ok. Isn't the rule keep it 3" or less? The weeds i feel like they're ok with only because i have watched them eating them and they're picking off individual leaves, not eating them whole. Like yesterday they didn't finish all i gave them, but what remained was just stems and roots. They had stripped all the leaves off. I'm making sure there is grit in the run too so they can grind it all up.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Yeah i don't do long unless it can be picked apart easily.  Our grass clippings are short, like 1.5-2 inches is all, so those are ok.  Isn't the rule keep it 3" or less?  The weeds i feel like they're ok with only because i have watched them eating them and they're picking off individual leaves, not eating them whole.  Like yesterday they didn't finish all i gave them, but what remained was just stems and roots.  They had stripped all the leaves off.  I'm making sure there is grit in the run too so they can grind it all up.

Very good!