how can I make them (chickens) eat more veggies?

[Acre4Me]

The goal is to keep and feed them in more traditional/rednecky style like here

or here

but on much smaller scale.

Lol! I didn’t watch the vids yet, but don’t rednecks just do it their own way without asking a forum? I mean that in a friendly way.

My spouse grew up partially in rural SC (redneck area, quite likely), so there are a few eyerolls some days when chickens come up in conversation. Spouse might not do much than through them scraps and be happy with whatever eggs they provided, if I didn’t go buy feed.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

If you can get cabbage they will probably like that (mine do).

Mine absolutely love cabbage. If I hang a head of cabbage from the ceiling, my 5 birds will have it demolished within a day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The goal is to keep and feed them in more traditional/rednecky style like here

or here

but on much smaller scale.

Scratching through compost isn't the same as eating vegetables. When working the compost they are looking for bugs, seeds and some fungi, not necessarily the scraps.

 

[aart]

Be careful that botulism doesn't come into play with chickens composting vegetable waste.
If you pile that up over the winter, when it won't break down well, come snow melt it could be nasty.
I do believe that internet guy has a lot of human power turning the compost along with the chickens...grains of salt there.

 

[Abriana]

The more treats you give, the less they will want to eat healthy. Cut out the baked goods and citrus, and they will begin to eat more veggies. Baked goods don’t have nutrients that will benefit chickens, it will only be dentramental to their health. Good luck!

 

[CanadaEh]

Be careful that botulism doesn't come into play with chickens composting vegetable waste.
If you pile that up over the winter, when it won't break down well, come snow melt it could be nasty.
I do believe that internet guy has a lot of human power turning the compost along with the chickens...grains of salt there.

I am not bringing that much. It is a hard work (the scraps are heavy) to bring them just for composting purposes.

 

[centrarchid]

Try switching out your base 17% protein diet for another with higher protein levels. You may then see an increase in vegetable intake. This assumes the higher protein feed is not also more energy dense.