Is my husband killing my chickens.

[chickengeorgeto]

The biggest problem is that they'll eat so much garden refuge that they will fall into a condition of LESS THAN IDEAL NUTRITION. Treats are fine but too many treats will mean poor nutrition.

 

[venymae]

Plants in the night shade family and poisonous nightshades are two completely different things. My chickens have mowed tomato plants to the ground for years without issues.

Agreed. My chickens eat tomato and pepper plants all the time. Not their favorite, but sometimes they seem to get a hankering for it! Mine have never liked eggplant leaves though.

 

[Titan Farm]

Its most likely sour crop, i would stop feeding all the yard waste and feed them just there normal commercial poultry feed, give them plenty of fresh water (nothing in it) and offer them lots of plain 'LIVE' active yogurt.

 

[JedJackson]

I have raised chickens off and on for several years. For the first time ever I have a chicken with impacted crop or maybe sour crop. My husband has spend all summer filling their run full of unused vegatables from our garden, mostly bad tomatoes, watermelon and ocassionally red peppers with bad places. Also when he cuts grass around the run it he lawn mower blows a lot of grass into the run. He says chickens will eat anything. My argument is so do humans but that doesn’t mean they should. Does anyone know if feeding all the garden leftovers and grass could cause my chickens to have the sour crop or impaction.

Fresh grass clippings should be fine but if the grass doesn't dry out fairly quickly it can clump up and get moldy, which could be a problem. Raking it out after a day or two could help.

I wouldn't feed my birds rotting or rotten fruit or veggies, either, but it's a question of degree-- if they've just gone over but aren't actually rotten then it should be fine.

I've read many places that the biggest cause of sour crop is actually feed that has gotten wet and moldy and is used anyway, so it pays to be vigilant about keeping it fresh and dry.

 

[chickens really]

All Layers need is the proper nutrition from the balanced diet Chicken feed has....Adding too much veg and other things takes from their daily dietary needs....Unhealthy birds and decline in egg production...Fatty liver disease and many other unnesassary illnesses.....
I would tell your Husband to slow down on all the treats....