Greens or no greens?

[Billjr]

EMYS and the rest are probably right. I can't relocate the post I was refering to. But I believe it was in response to an internal egg problem. Something to do with the shell not forming correctly due to calcium deficiency. I can't see what greens would hurt. Unless it is poisonous. I will still feed them the leftover salad on occasion. BTW They never touch the greens of the salad until every bit of the shaved carrot is gone and searched for again a while longer. Thanks.

 

[Chris09]

A lot of poultry feed have alfalfa meal in it.
Here is a Layer/ breeder ingredient list.

INGREDIENTS: Ground Corn, Soybean Meal, Porcine Meat and Bone Meal, Wheat Middlings, Corn Gluten Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with BHA), DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Manganous Oxide Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite (source of Vitamin K Activity), Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Biotin.


Chris

 

[TipsyDog]

With winter in full swing, some treats I feed are a baked sweet potato, an apple, cabbage, kale or lettuce. I prefer to give them kale over lettuce though. I buy a 2 lb. bag of kale at Walmart but it's always very dry and they didn't really like it so I dumped some in the food processor, chopped alittle and they love it now. I think chopping it up brings out the smell and juice and makes it more appealing. I've chopped up broccoli too - my girls are spoiled!

You can also give a handful of cat food, BOSS, cracked corn, etc. I always keep a bowl of oyster shell out for them too. Do feed greens, they really prefer it and it makes for better eggs.

 

[Mahonri]

Greens = Great eggs and rich, yellow yolks.

 

[Harrietsmum]

I live in a mild climate area. Mine eat greens everyday all year round, especially silverbeet, spinach and various grasses and herbs. The yolk of their eggs is almost an orange colour, and the shells are very hard.

 

[fiberart57]

I bought a bale of top quality horse hay and throw down a new flake every few day and mine pick at the leaves. I'll chop up lettuce and other greens for them and today I threw out some chopped parsley (very nutritious and helps bad breath). They're pretty happy with that until the grass comes back.

I think that if your chickens have choices of the kinds of nutrition they need they will monitor their own intake so as not to get too much of something.

Mary