Medlar for a chicken treat. Good idea?

[MargaretYakoda]

Today, after a long Dr appointment, when I got home, without thinking about whether or not it might be a good idea, I picked one of our medlars and took it to the girls to see if they'd eat it at all (I just wanted a little quality time with my girls!). I thought they'd take one bite of the medlar and spit it out. Nope. They LOVED it! They totally ignored the zucchini slices I gave them.

So, here's my question: Should I go easy on the medlars? Or would it be safe to feed the girls one every couple days or so?

For clarification, this was a medlar straight off the tree. It wasn't bletted. And once they got their beaks on it they just tore into it.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Bump.
Anyone?

 

[Kelsie2290]

The only thing I see is that Medlars straight off the bushes are high in tannins, think I would make sure they are bletted if you are going to feed many of them.
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/tannin.html
" In poultry, small quantities of tannins in the diet cause adverse effects
levels from 0.5 to 2.0% can cause depression in growth and egg production,
levels from 3 to 7% can cause death. "

 

[MargaretYakoda]

The only thing I see is that Medlars straight off the bushes are high in tannins, think I would make sure they are bletted if you are going to feed many of them.
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/tannin.html
" In poultry, small quantities of tannins in the diet cause adverse effects
levels from 0.5 to 2.0% can cause depression in growth and egg production,
levels from 3 to 7% can cause death. "

Yipes! OK so no more medlars (at least, not until I figure out the exact level of tannins in our medlars)! THANKYOU!