my chickens only eat planted greens

[whoop whoop]

I am having a huge problem trying to get my chooks to eat greens. They only eat stuff that is planted and dig up the seeds before they sprout. So now have planted in their run lots of seeds under wire domes so they can't get to them until they sprout. I have tried every veggie and fruit chopped, unchopped, shredded, diced etc and they still look at me as if to say what on earth is this crap. They look healthy enough as give lots of different seeds and proper store bought food but still concerned as I feel they ought to have veggies.

They are like recalcitrant children, and unlike children you can't bribe them to eat veggies or can you?

 

[tjo804]

I dont know if this will help, but you may even be able to find a way to keep something like this going in a bin and just pull a bunch out?
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/02/sprouting-grains-for-chickens-fodder.html

Good luck

 

[allpeepedout]

That is odd. How old are they? One reason my chickens prefer planted green stuff is because they can tear off small bits vs. if you give them pulled grass or clover they have no resistance to tear the plant apart. When I do this, I use scissors to cut things up a bit.

I'd use a food grinder and grind up a veggie like cabbage super-fine -- really tiny pieces -- then mix in birdseed, scrambled eggs, sunflower seeds, or some other treat to get them started on the tiny veggie pieces.

Do they have good access to grit?

 

[centrarchid]

Increase protein levels in the diet, especially as you might provide on animal side. Restrict ration a little and intake on fruits / vegetables will pick up. My free-range birds hammer down plants best when insect abundance also high. They are after balance.

 

[eviemethugh]

Eating greens really isn't that important to chickens. They will do it, certainly! However, dry matter (aka seeds, grains, even dried hay) is where they receive alot of their nutrients from. They don't really have the proper system to take nutrients out of fresh greens (think of how a ruminent like a cow needs so many stomachs to get the job done, your chickens are literally only working with a gizzard full of rocks)
That is not to say that I throw the idea of greens out the window. We have found that weeds and clover (which is protein rich) are a huge hit with most chickens (not just ours, I'm a nerd and subscribe to printed newsletters...yepp I really do!) Anything you can plant that will go to seed quickly is also good. I have heard of people leaving their gardens after the season is over and when all of the plants go to seed they let their chickens loose for a grand time!
Plants that attract bugs are good for chickens, we also let ours into the compost pile and they will turn it for us while searching for bugs.
But you cant expect to let a plant grow under a chickens watchful eye. If they don't find the seed...well they do love fresh sprouts they are just so soft and tasty! Chickens will never just let something grow, they are too curious and will surely get into it before it's time.

I do agree with all peeped out, that things that are still planted seem to be easier for them, only our geese will eat greens that we just throw in the run.

We have had a bit of a heat front and have been chopping and freezing large chunks of squash, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, whatever the garden has that isn't quite fit for human consumption because of little bug bites or growing too big. They mostly seem to enjoy these treats! You could also offer seed pod veggies like peas, green beans, black beans. Picking them and letting them dry a little bit is even better. Just not soy beans unless you roast them first. Whole corn cobs are fun (but ummm they seriously come back out looking like they went in if you know what I mean...)
Hope that gives you a few ideas for veggies that aren't leafy.

 

[whoop whoop]

Well I am not sure about grit as such, they have a big area to run in. Have bought parrot cage grit and scattered it around, and 'bashed up oyster shells. The two girls and Henry are a year. Two young ones at three months and a baby of two weeks. Here is pic of part of their area ....







Sorry not very good pic doesn't show the 'green' areas, have planted a raised bed with spinach which they love, but as I said it needs to be planted. I have noticed that however that the ones born here are more reponsive to different veggies I tried again this evening after reading this thread and tried apple again cut up, which they seem to like. I am just wondering if perhaps the breeder only fed mash and being chickens they aren't used to new stuff, but have been trying everything. Sometims I think that you don't see the 'wood for the trees' if you know what I mean but will persist lol

 

[whoop whoop]

Eating greens really isn't that important to chickens. They will do it, certainly! However, dry matter (aka seeds, grains, even dried hay) is where they receive alot of their nutrients from. They don't really have the proper system to take nutrients out of fresh greens (think of how a ruminent like a cow needs so many stomachs to get the job done, your chickens are literally only working with a gizzard full of rocks)
That is not to say that I throw the idea of greens out the window. We have found that weeds and clover (which is protein rich) are a huge hit with most chickens (not just ours, I'm a nerd and subscribe to printed newsletters...yepp I really do!) Anything you can plant that will go to seed quickly is also good. I have heard of people leaving their gardens after the season is over and when all of the plants go to seed they let their chickens loose for a grand time!
Plants that attract bugs are good for chickens, we also let ours into the compost pile and they will turn it for us while searching for bugs.
But you cant expect to let a plant grow under a chickens watchful eye. If they don't find the seed...well they do love fresh sprouts they are just so soft and tasty! Chickens will never just let something grow, they are too curious and will surely get into it before it's time.

I do agree with all peeped out, that things that are still planted seem to be easier for them, only our geese will eat greens that we just throw in the run.

We have had a bit of a heat front and have been chopping and freezing large chunks of squash, zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, whatever the garden has that isn't quite fit for human consumption because of little bug bites or growing too big. They mostly seem to enjoy these treats! You could also offer seed pod veggies like peas, green beans, black beans. Picking them and letting them dry a little bit is even better. Just not soy beans unless you roast them first. Whole corn cobs are fun (but ummm they seriously come back out looking like they went in if you know what I mean...)
Hope that gives you a few ideas for veggies that aren't leafy.

Well phew! thanks, tried the whole corn but they have to have it cut up, maybe I spoil them, hell knows - I have my own mealie worm thing going on so I think they have enough, but I will let them loose on the compost that is a brilliant idea and I have a huge amount of that. My one hen digs to China everyday so she will have a field day in the compost. Thank you so much.

 

[whoop whoop]

@tjo84 what a super site thank you

 

[tjo804]

your welcome Loads of things there!
I am working on trying to figure out the eggs as decorations things right now. Christmas bulbs can get expensive and with no carpet they tend to break. I use that site a lot. Good information.

 

[whoop whoop]

@tjo804 we blow out Ostrich eggs and paint them, with lots of African themes and then varnish to make them hard - they look really cool - bit big to hang on the tree though

I have taken all my empty five litre water bottles and cut them sides ways and planted seeds as per your site, so hopefully chicks will get some fresh sprouts soon by all accounts they grow quickly - thanks again for the site