Juicing for chickens in winter?

[llombardo]

So I just got a nice juicer and I have been thinking how to get these guys nutrients they get from veggies(especially greens) in the winter. So I was thinking about using the juicer for this purpose(kale, cucumber, cilantro, greens) If I put this out in a heated bowl, would they bother with it? Since its liquid, would this replace water with more nutrients involved? Offer this and water? Or would it be a waste of time?

All the stuff I would juice would freeze if put out in normal form, so I'm trying to think out of the box here.

 

[ronott1]

So I just got a nice juicer and I have been thinking how to get these guys nutrients they get from veggies(especially greens) in the winter. So I was thinking about using the juicer for this purpose(kale, cucumber, cilantro, greens) If I put this out in a heated bowl, would they bother with it? Since its liquid, would this replace water with more nutrients involved? Offer this and water? Or would it be a waste of time?

All the stuff I would juice would freeze if put out in normal form, so I'm trying to think out of the box here.

It is better to give them the whole plant. You do not get all of the good stuff in the juice!

No more than 10% of their diet though. The rest should be chicken feed.

 

[llombardo]

This would be specifically for winter and from what I understand greens can be unlimited and are not a snack like meal worms, fruits, scrambled eggs, etc.

I cannot give thrm the whole plant, it will freeze and freeze fast.

 

[Firefoot]

So I've tried to make mine smoothies and stuff before, and they really haven't been interested. In the winter especially, they seem to want something they can tear apart and eat. I would think your chicken feed should be balanced enough to provide them with everything they need so I wouldn't be overly concerned about getting more stuff into them (even good stuff like veg), but juicing can be $$$. You could try alfalfa hay, though. It can come in many forms like hay cubes you can soak, pellets, and chopped up in a bag (Dengie, etc.), as well as a traditional bale (which is probably way too much if you're not feeding it to horses or the like). I haven't personally fed my chickens alfalfa hay, but I imagine they'd like it and it is very nutritious (and a good source of calcium!).

 

[snow5164]

Hi!
Greens can be unlimited??
I thought anything other then their feed was not to be more then 10% of their diet ? Be careful you will dilute all the good things in their feed and your egg production will suffer .

I wouldn’t bother with juicing you loose all the fiber and entertainment that a whole leaf offers them .

Winters hard , I freeze pie plates of corn/greens in yogurt

 

[Chickassan]

Oh man you should try it they love it! I put it down on the coop floor instead of anything else and they just munch away. There is so much protein in that stuff it is nuts!

So I've tried to make mine smoothies and stuff before, and they really haven't been interested. In the winter especially, they seem to want something they can tear apart and eat. I would think your chicken feed should be balanced enough to provide them with everything they need so I wouldn't be overly concerned about getting more stuff into them (even good stuff like veg), but juicing can be $$$. You could try alfalfa hay, though. It can come in many forms like hay cubes you can soak, pellets, and chopped up in a bag (Dengie, etc.), as well as a traditional bale (which is probably way too much if you're not feeding it to horses or the like). I haven't personally fed my chickens alfalfa hay, but I imagine they'd like it and it is very nutritious (and a good source of calcium!).

 

[Firefoot]

Oh man you should try it they love it! I put it down on the coop floor instead of anything else and they just munch away. There is so much protein in that stuff it is nuts!

I will this winter! The past few years I've boarded my horse at places that don't let me order my own hay, so I've been at their mercy and feeding the horse kind of crappy grass hay. But I'm getting ready to start renting my own spot with a friend and I'm so excited about getting the horse good timothy and alfalfa -- and of course bringing some "candy" home to the chickens!!

 

[Chickassan]

I started out lining my brooder with it because it was all the store had and my little chicks devoured it! I thought well if the little ones like it so much i'll give the bigs some, same reaction. It is really a life saver in the winter when nothing is green.

I will this winter! The past few years I've boarded my horse at places that order don't let me order my own hay, so I've been at their mercy and feeding the horse kind of crappy grass hay. But I'm getting ready to start renting my own spot with a friend and I'm so excited about getting the horse good timothy and alfalfa -- and of course bringing some "candy" home to the chickens!!

 

[llombardo]

I've thought about the cubes. Mine did not care for alfalfa hay. Tried that about a month ago.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Mine don't drink any juice leftover from fruit like watermelon or cantaloupe.
As far as greens freezing in the winter, I put it in a suet holder which is clipped up off the ground. They still pick at it even if it freezes.
Warm stuff will freeze unless kept warm so the juice won't be warm for long.
I tried the warm oatmeal - by the time I got it out to their run, it was already cold.
They still ate it. Lol But, it didn't work to warm them up.
Also due to the Mpemba effect, warm water (liquids) actually freeze faster than cold water (if not keep consistently warm).