Planting a vegetable garden, what will my chickens like??

[littlechick1005]

Im putting in a vegetable garden this weekend and was wondering what I could plant for my hens?? I see plenty of poisonous plant information but not a lot on what they can eat and enjoy, I would love to know what is safe and tasty for my hens

 

[donrae]

Mine have eaten tomatos, squashes of different kinds, cucumbers, green beans, carrot tops, beet tops, any melon, didn't like eggplant so much, peppers are okay but they like the seeds more than the flesh, any berries are great, broccoli and it's cousins are good, spinich and lettuce and other greens are good. Sunflowers are good, too. You can dry them and save them for the boring winter.

 

[nurse_turtle]

They will eat anything that sprouts and if given the opportunity, they will eat the sprouts first.

 

[chfite]

The chickens tend to eat most anything. The don't like cucumber rinds, corn husks, or fennel from what I have learned. Mine think that weeds tossed over the fence are the cat's pajamas. Tomatoes grow as volunteers all around the runs, so the chickens have tomato leaves and fruit all the time.

Chris

 

[AllenInTampa]

Any type of lettuces, mustard greens, turnips, collards, cabbage. Lettuce is the easiest. Grows really quick so you can replant it as needed

 

[nakstk]

I thought tomato leaves were toxic to chickens?

 

[GardenGal]

I've read on a number of sites that tomato leaves are toxic for chickens. Rhubarb leaves are also toxic.

Spinach and chard are good bets as well, and handy because you can freeze extra for winter. Anything in the cabbage family.

Those will be some lucky chickens!

 

[sumi]

I have a huge bed of spinach just for my chickens. In winter we grow broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower and the hens love the leaves. You can pull the entire plant our, cut of the broccoli flowers or cauliflower for yourself and hang the plant upside down in the run for the chickens to play with. Or you can hang a whole cabbage up for them. They will love you for it.

 

[deb004]

someone said that cabbage isn't good for the chickens, is this true or false?

 

[Vamvakas]

I noticed chickens really like swiss chard alot