How Much is Too Much Fresh Greens?

[Barry Natchitoches]

Is there a limit to the amount of fresh, green weeds that my birds can eat and still have a healthy, balanced diet?


I'm cleaning out the garden beds right now for spring planting, plus cutting the grass for the first time this season.


This means that there is a huge amount of fresh green weeds and grass clippings to feed the birds right now. They live inside a barren chicken yard (they long ago ate their yard grass), but right now you wouldn't know it, as green as it is from everything I've thrown in there.


And they are eating the stuff. Lots of green stuff.


So I wonder: what is the limit? Will they pig out on greenery, and neglect their layer pellets?


What happens to egg production if they eat too many greens? What about their health?


Just wondering....

 

[Mahonri]

If you have layers, be certain that they have plenty of layer feed available and they should be fine.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I wouldn't worry too much. They are probably craving the nutrients in it, after the long winter of not having any. When they get enough, I think they'll slow down. As long as they have their regular feed to go back to, they should be fine. Even if you had a really small temporary drop in production on a particular day, it would be worth it for the health benefits to your chickens. Plus, the eggs they lay after that will have more nutrients in them. Yummy!

 

[gavinandallison]

Keep giving as much as much as possible!!! We give ours at least 2 or 3 baskets of chickweed and dandelion leaves everyday, as well as salad scraps etc. And yes, it does manke the eggs taste better......

 

[caspernc]

I was wondering the samething since I can give them all they want. A head of lettus lasts like 15 mni. with 30 barred rocks. Don't even show them a cucumber, your hand will disapear with the cuc!

 

[petunias212]

i was not aware that chickens could eat lettuce!! you learn something new every day.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Are grass clippings safe?
Can't they get impacted crops from enjoying to much?

 

[caspernc]

so far so good........dried foods impact worse that green. IMHO