new research debunks trad views on nutrition

[RoyalChick]

Mine eat some flowers but mainly not. They do love rose petals though. When I deadhead the roses I try to toss them for the chickens and they are popular. The other flower that is very popular is the small green flowers from the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). There is always a scrum when those fall to the ground from the huge tree that towers over the Chicken Palace.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

There's a big drive to plant more red clover here because it's such an important source of food for the great yellow bumblebee, partly because of its protein content. Vetches too.

If you plant clover, I recommend from experience that you plant several varieties - they will bloom at different times, and prefer slightly different environments. My yellow clover, for instance, only does well where there is some vertical edge - 4x4 posts, fences, trees, large fallen logs, etc. Sunlight has something to do with it too - though I've not figured out what - the crimson clover on one side of the road blooms a week or two before the clover on the other, and north/south roads different than east/west

 

[kattabelly]

If you plant clover, I recommend from experience that you plant several varieties - they will bloom at different times, and prefer slightly different environments. My yellow clover, for instance, only does well where there is some vertical edge - 4x4 posts, fences, trees, large fallen logs, etc. Sunlight has something to do with it too - though I've not figured out what - the crimson clover on one side of the road blooms a week or two before the clover on the other, and north/south roads different than east/west

The project is using a mix of clovers and other species, both as native wildflower seeds mixes and plugs. Red clover is being prioritised though because it's a preferred food source for the target species, B. distinguendus, which is only found here and a few other places in the UK. (Map behind spoiler in case it's massive)

Spoiler

Dark green areas show known distribution

Red clover does well here in areas of taller mixed growth like this verge and waste ground:

We have plenty of white clover in areas that are kept shorter due to a combination of planting (shorter grasses), mowing/scything, grazing and footfall. Red clover doesn't seem to do so well in these areas even when it was initially sown at the same time as the white. Red also seems to flower more continuously over a longer period, even within a small area, than the white which is much more one big flush and then done.

The chickens seem to prefer white clover leaves. I've not noticed if they eat the flowers or show a preference there - probably they keep it too grazed down in their usual forage spots to ever give it the chance to flower.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The project is using a mix of clovers and other species, both as native wildflower seeds mixes and plugs. Red clover is being prioritised though because it's a preferred food source for the target species, B. distinguendus, which is only found here and a few other places in the UK. (Map behind spoiler in case it's massive)

Spoiler

Dark green areas show known distribution

Red clover does well here in areas of taller mixed growth like this verge and waste ground:
View attachment 4206298
View attachment 4206300
We have plenty of white clover in areas that are kept shorter due to a combination of planting (shorter grasses), mowing/scything, grazing and footfall. Red clover doesn't seem to do so well in these areas even when it was initially sown at the same time as the white. Red also seems to flower more continuously over a longer period, even within a small area, than the white which is much more one big flush and then done.

The chickens seem to prefer white clover leaves. I've not noticed if they eat the flowers or show a preference there - probably they keep it too grazed down in their usual forage spots to ever give it the chance to flower.

that's pretty awesome. Eventually, my pasture will be closer to that.