Hops and your chickens

[ellandeeranch]

My son got me into homebrewing beer a few years back, and we planted some hop plants. Out here in the desert, they don't do too well, but I moved them to a north facing wall to give 'em a sun break. Then, the wire all the way up to the top of the barn lets them grow tall as they like.

Anyway, I've got flowers this year and tried one on the pullets. They went right for it. Of course, fresh hops taste quite a bit like fresh cut grass.

They won't get any more, since I'll need the hops for a batch of homebrew!

Anyone try it?

Richard

 

[yakibert]

I grow hops ..but haven't tried feeding the hops to the chickens ...although hop accented eggs sound a bit interesting

I will give the chickens spent grains though ...not too much ..I only have a couple chickens and can't imagine them eating a whole batch of spent grains ..just some and the rest goes into the compost pile.

 

[yakibert]

Oh! Did find this article by the USDA:


Hops Extract May Reduce Clostridium in Chickens

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/081029.htm