How Early For Greens?

[3KillerBs]

I will be getting my chicks on Friday, God willing and the farm store gets the delivery as planned.

My son volunteers at a food pantry and they sent him home with several bags of kale that would have been trashed -- more than I can eat quickly and more than I have space to freeze right now. Can I put a leaf into the brooder for them to peck at after a few days -- when I've seen that they're eating well from their regular food? With some grit available, of course.

Or would it be better to resign myself to composting the excess kale and hold off on greens for a couple weeks? We're making a chick-tight enclosure to let them into the grass for a little bit early on so I assume they'll be sampling the grass and weeds soon.

 

[nchls school]

Yes, chicks can have kale leaves.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

It’s worth offering early to see how they react and to get them used to it. Probably won’t eat a lot so most will likely end up in compost until they get a little bigger.

it’s great to get them started on free, “rescued” food, though. You’ve saving something landfill bound and putting it to good use.

I’ve been taking food waste from a local food pantry for a few months, and donating extra eggs to the pantry. Not only does it keep waste out of the landfill, it saves them on waste hauling fees.

My average weekly pickup is more than a bagful, but every little bit helps all around

An average pickup:

 

[rosemarythyme]

A little bit should be fine, they may or may not eat it (might just play with it). Mine started picking at bits of grass and willow leaves as soon as they could access them.