is grass seriously not good for them?

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
Thanks so much for that link! Definitely a good resource. Bookmarked.

trust me i had NOOO clue until someone here have me the link. I was like OMG, so i try to pay it forward

 

[joanie_maine]

I think this idea of grass being no good came from the idea of feeding lawn mower clippings.

When the birds eat grass on their own. it's a natural thing.

The lawn mower clippings may be the cause of some birds being crop-bound.

As in most animals, the natural way that the animals choose seems to be the best.

 

[emvickrey]

WE actually put grass clippings in ours run. They love it they eat what they want and the rest is kind of like a litter since they have no grass growing in the run. We rake it up or put the bag on the mower and dump it in the run and the coop. WE have tons of clover growing in the yard. I ried to give them some one time and they refused it. But when I let them out to roam one day I noticed they where eating the little white flowers off of them. I used to eat them myself as a kid.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I was thinking about the grass issue myself as I am finally going to get my dog house turned banty coop/tractor done and the chicks moved in this weekend. 10 wk old black silkie, buff silkie and black cochin. They have had visits to the lawn maybe 3 days a week for an hour at a time.

They will be on all you can eat green grass, clover and some weeds full time. I'm concerned they will eat too much grass n clover and not enough starter.

Is that something I should worry about or not?

 

[RendonRoo]

Mine stand at the run door waiting for me to finish mowing. I always scoop up a couple of handfuls for them. I was worried about impacted crops etc but haven't had a problem. When they can reach and pull long weeds for the "outside" they eat the long pieces like spagetti. I have seen them get a long piece half way down and it stuck. A friendly coop mate promptly grabbed the other end and pulled it back out. The two then shared the same piece of grass. Freaked me out the first time i saw it but i've seen it several times since so i expect that it's rather normal.

 

[lunkerchicken]

I feed both my 7 week old and 5 week old girls grass and have had no issues. I don't feed them mounds of it but sometimes do put in freshly cut clippings. To prevent that getting bound up business, I dice it up for them!

I think some green in there diet is very beneficial - everything in moderation.

 

[melody123]

My chickens love 1/2 the things, that I recognize, on that list. I agree that everything in moderation.

My chickens don't eat the cherry pits, neither do my goats. (The chickens pick the cherry flesh and leave the pits, the goats actually spit the pits out.

) So it's dosen't matter if the pits are bad for them, since they don't eat them.

Most animals will avoid poisonous plants, unless there is nothing else to eat. If they are allowed to run wild like mine, they eat what they want and stay healthy. If you keep them penned up, then don't give them too much of any one thing. (This includes commercial feed. Have a heart and give them lots of treats.)

My chickens have nice, shiny feathers. They look and sound healthy, and they eat everything. I was at a auction yesterday and I couldn't believe the horrible condition that the chickens were. Yes, some were very fat from eating lots of commercial feed, but their feathers, feet, beaks, and combs looked dull and unhealthy. There must be something very healthy in bugs, slugs, grass, and clover. (And everything else that they decimate.)

 

[melody123]

My chickens love 1/2 the things, that I recognize, on that list. I agree that everything in moderation.

My chickens don't eat the cherry pits, neither do my goats. (The chickens pick the cherry flesh and leave the pits, the goats actually spit the pits out.

) So it's dosen't matter if the pits are bad for them, since they don't eat them.

Most animals will avoid poisonous plants, unless there is nothing else to eat. If they are allowed to run wild like mine, they eat what they want and stay healthy. If you keep them penned up, then don't give them too much of any one thing. (This includes commercial feed. Have a heart and give them lots of treats.)

My chickens have nice, shiny feathers. They look and sound healthy, and they eat everything. I was at a auction yesterday and I couldn't believe the horrible condition that the chickens were. Yes, some were very fat from eating lots of commercial feed, but their feathers, feet, beaks, and combs looked dull and unhealthy. There must be something very healthy in bugs, slugs, grass, and clover. (And everything else that they decimate.)

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Yes, I agree. We know that a processed food only diet is very bad for humans, so why do we think this kind of diet would be healthy for a chicken?

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

Ours freerange on grass and clover and seem healthier for it compared to the ones who stay in their coops.