Grits and Alfalfa

[rosemarythyme]

Grits are super delicious, what are you all talking about! (I'm not a Southerner either!)

 

[Percheron chick]

Hold the alfalfa. Butter and cheddar? Yum! And I'm 1/2 Yankee. Gotta be Jim Dandy.

 

[Johnny&Blue]

Shrimp N Grits ... Come get ya some

 

[New Chicken Lady]

Think wall paper paste.

Grits are a southerners Manna from heaven. It would be the equivalent (although far superior equivalent) to cream of wheat.

 

[New Chicken Lady]

Chickens will not eat the stalks of hay, only the leaves and blades of grass. I give mine a mixed grass hay to pick through, they also like any fines that I sweep off the floor from the hay. Those bagged bags they sell for rabbits are too stemy to be worth feeding in my opinion.

You can feed grits cooked, your birds will enjoy them.

I would feed a higher protein ration if you are looking to add variety to their diet so the overall total protein isn't cut below the minimum 16% required daily. Most layers are 16% protein, so adding any extras can leave you birds deficit. I recommend a protein content of 18-22%. I personally feed an All Flock ration with a separate bowl of oyster shells.

Things like greens and corn can boost egg yolk color. I'm not sure if grits will do the same.

So the kind for rabbits is no good? They seemed to scratch through it and eat some. I saw on some YouTube videos that some people's chickens love to eat the hay they provide for goats and horses. So could I grind it up for them? If not, what other form could I feed to them? I def want to do alfalfa. I've read that you can soak the blocks or that there are pellets? Btw - thanks for your advice!

 

[New Chicken Lady]

Well, bless my little heart! I read it wrong. Very occasional use of grits as a treat would be ok, but remember, any time you give them something like this, you are cutting their protein intake.

You'll also need to be sure they have access to GRIT, especially if there is no naturally occurring insoluble stone particles in your soil.

I've got plenty of grit. Didn't put it out in the summer/fall, but now that the free ranging has been less available, I offer it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So the kind for rabbits is no good? They seemed to scratch through it and eat some. I saw on some YouTube videos that some people's chickens love to eat the hay they provide for goats and horses. So could I grind it up for them? If not, what other form could I feed to them? I def want to do alfalfa. I've read that you can soak the blocks or that there are pellets? Btw - thanks for your advice!

They will definitely eat alfalfa, it's that they won't eat the stalk part, they will eat the greens, so if you don't mind the waste of most of the bag you can definitely feed it. They will scratch through it and the stalk part will become bedding. Any type of hay they won't generally eat the stems. Some people buy the cubes of alfalfa made for horses, it may be more cost efficient.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

The dried cubes are easy to feed. I soak one and mix into they're fermented feed once a week. They ferment easy also. Mine seem to eat them either way.

I guess you could also throw a few into a baggie and break them up with a hammer and scatter like scratch.

 

[lazy gardener]

Grits are super delicious, what are you all talking about! (I'm not a Southerner either!)

So, how do you prepare them? And serve them with what????

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

I LOVE grits....can't buy them in canada though you can however get them @ Denny's... but being here in Canada they just don't know how to cook them.

I eat mine with butter, brown sugar & cream or milk. Mmmmm