Mixing Grower and Layer Feed Together?

[U_Stormcrow]

Spinach isn't really high protein. Its mostly water. Same with kale. and while there is some concern that high levels of oxalates present in all cruciferous veggies can affect calcium absorption, in theory...

...in practice, you aren't going to feed your birds enough cruciferous veggies to reach those levels, even if you somehow do, they aren't going to eat them given other choices. AND if you have a dish of oyster shell out for them, they will correct for it naturally.

So if it makes you happy, go ahead, give 'em spinach. kale. chard. broccoli. arugula. collards. bok choy. cabbage. Unless there's a bug on a leaf, mine ignore it.

Rabbits??? Whole 'nother story.

 

[saysfaa]

.. what type of greens is recommended for poultry raised in runs?...supplying them the beneficial minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants they would normally receive in a free range environment....

The historical standard of 50 to 100 years or so for this purpose has been alfalfa. Clover is sometimes mentioned.

It works but it is not the only thing that works. Part of the reason it is so commonly recommended is it was commonly available.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The historical standard of 50 to 100 years or so for this purpose has been alfalfa. Clover is sometimes mentioned.

It works but it is not the only thing that works. Part of the reason it is so commonly recommended is it was commonly available.

First thing I planted in my pasture after it was cleared for the chickens was clover. A nitrogen fixing legume loosely which makes a good cover crop and is a perennial in my climate. Had my climate not been quite so warm, Alfalfa would have been my choice. In other words, Match Your Greens to your grounds. I would love to do Orchard Grass, but too much sun and too much heat.

 

[Sally PB]

The county road commission regraded our road and put ditches in on both sides in one area. Our property on one side, the farmer's field on the other. Big scar of bare dirt, and about 4 feet of slope, just waiting for a heavy rain to wash it away. I had some old (5? 8? year old) alfalfa seeds, so I planted them on both sides. Technically, the ditch on the farmer's side is still our property.

I think he sprayed his side, as nothing came up. Our side is a nice stand of alfalfa, and I'm leaving it to flower for the bees. Then I'll cut it with the string trimmer and use some of it for mulch and some for the chickens.

I'm hoping the deep roots help keep the ditch from washing away down the road.

 

[JPadronMiami]

interesting, never thought of greens as hydration, i always think minerals, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties, tell me, whats your opinion on veggies such as broccoli, cauliflowers, pumkin, squash, zuchinni, beets and things like that, special note to nothing in the night-shade family, my birds are in large runs, they are not free ranged for their protection, there are no greens or grasses for them on the ground after a while, I try to introduce greens and such into the runs to kind of re-create the environment they can forage on as if they were out free range. otherwise i feel that they are lacking the nutritional benefits and variety of food sources they can find free ranging. I feed them the Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve 17% complete feed

 

[PoppasGrill]

interesting, never thought of greens as hydration, i always think minerals, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties, tell me, whats your opinion on veggies such as broccoli, cauliflowers, pumkin, squash, zuchinni, beets and things like that, special note to nothing in the night-shade family, my birds are in large runs, they are not free ranged for their protection, there are no greens or grasses for them on the ground after a while, I try to introduce greens and such into the runs to kind of re-create the environment they can forage on as if they were out free range. otherwise i feel that they are lacking the nutritional benefits and variety of food sources they can find free ranging. I feed them the Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve 17% complete feed

We’ve given ours cooked and raw pumpkins and squash, cooked beets , raw corn on cob, and of course they love a good treat of melons.

 

[JPadronMiami]

lol, i hear you! recently, i take couple of handfuls of scratch and toss it in the veg patch, grow them until they are few inches high, then pull em up and use those as micro green treats, they seem to enjoy them, they also seem to like Orchard Grass, i keep bales for the horses, i tried using it to line the egg boxes and they ended up eating most of it so its when I noticed they like it.

 

[JPadronMiami]