Greens when grass is gone

[MontanaChickDoc]

I have started soaking alfalfa cubes for them. I have about 40 chickens and 9 ducks so a bowl of soaked alfalfa cubes doesn't go very far per bird Some like it, some don't, but if nothing else they stay busy moving the soaked cube mush around looking for something more interesting underneath.

 

[EggWalrus]

I have started soaking alfalfa cubes for them. I have about 40 chickens and 9 ducks so a bowl of soaked alfalfa cubes doesn't go very far per bird Some like it, some don't, but if nothing else they stay busy moving the soaked cube mush around looking for something more interesting underneath.

Sounds like you go thru about a 5 gal bucket of alfalfa a week. if you'll fill it about 1/3rd full of alfalfa add a 1/2 C. of ACV, then top off with water, not only will they be getting greens but it will be fermented. To get them to eat it, mix about 1 coffee can of fermented alfalfa with half a can of scratch or other feed seed and about 3 cans of layer feed/all flock. They should eat it all after a couple days of aquiring a taste for it. If a few birds are still being picky, put some bacon drippings or a cup of ham bullion/water in with it before giving it to them. After a month you could give them straight alfalfa and they'd eat it, but that isn't recommended. Not even during a forced molt.

 

[Suzi18]

Mine love it when I hang a head of broccoli......its there favorite.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Green food for chickens is highly overrated. While chickens love to scratch and destroy grassy patches (as opposed to devour those same patches) hens actually eat a very small percentage of the available green stuff. Also don't forget that chickens pull or break off much of the grass but leave it laying so the Sun quickly dries the grass out and it shrivels up to almost nothing while laying on the coop floor.

 

[Bamabexchicks]

I don't think you will need greens every day, but free ranging or hanging a head of cabbage/lettuce helps with entertaining and health.

The cabbage pinata is a raging success in our little coop! Thanks for the great idea. Hubby hung one yesterday for the first time and in less than an hour it looked like it had been attacked by a chainsaw!!!

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

I gotta try that. Cabbage is so cheap!

 

[Bamabexchicks]

Green food for chickens is highly overrated. While chickens love to scratch and destroy grassy patches (as opposed to devour those same patches) hens actually eat a very small percentage of the available green stuff. Also don't forget that chickens pull or break off much of the grass but leave it laying so the Sun quickly dries the grass out and it shrivels up to almost nothing while laying on the coop floor.

No disrespect intended,however...That has not been my experience to this point; when we put our girls in their tractor they literally graze on the grass tops and swallow it. Nothing is left on the ground wasted.

 

[Morrigan]

No disrespect intended,however...That has not been my experience to this point; when we put our girls in their tractor they literally graze on the grass tops and swallow it. Nothing is left on the ground wasted.

It's been my experience as well. Mine love grass clippings and will demolish a collard green plant if given half a chance.

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

When I have opened the crops of chickens at necropsy (and I've necropsied hundreds of birds) you can tell the ones that free range or at least have access to grassy areas. There is a lot of grass, green herbage, weedy bits, bug parts and other things in there. So I would have to say that they eat grass in more than just a passing matter, and I certainly see my girls plucking and eating the tender grass stems, clovers and chick weed in the yard as they graze about. I'm sure it varies by bird, just like some people adore vegetables and others would really rather not eat them

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Could you try moving the run to a fresh spot. I give my hens greens everyday almost