Purslane for chickens?

[Chicabee19]

Our yard is overrun with Purslane. can chickens eat that?

thank you!

 

[utahmethodist]

Yep! It's one of the very best sources in the world for omega-3. You can eat it too!

 

[LoneCowboy]

But would you want to?

Really? You can eat it?

 

[keljonma]

Purslane is very good for you and your flock. We eat the leaves in salad. My sister-in-law says she also eats the stems, but I'm not fond of them. Never eat any that have been sprayed with chemicals.

 

[utahmethodist]

Yes, you can eat it, believe it or not.

Exhibit A: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/fresh-herb-salad-recipe/index.html

Exhibit B: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PURSLANE-AND-PARSLEY-SALAD-243192

Exhibit C: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PURSLANE-MEYER-LEMON-AND-PEAR-SALAD-WITH-KAFFIR-LIME-VINAIGRETTE-108659

And one more for good measure: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/GRILLED-ZUCCHINI-SALAD-WITH-PURSLANE-AND-TOMATO-106887

I'm actually going to try that last one tomorrow. It uses a lot of things I need to use up right now!

 

[Chicabee19]

I knew that humans could eat it, and we tried it, but really it's sort of sour. Cooking helps, but really, there are so many better things to eat.

I suppose if the chicken-stuff hits the fan and we are all starving we could cultivate and eat it. I hear it's very high in Vitamin C.

Glad to know chickens can eat it -- will probably be our main source of yard greens!

Here's a joke we made up (kinda lame, but we're not stand-up comics):

"Hey honey, what's another name for a lawn-mower?"

"Purslane-propagation device"

Even a single cell of the Purslane plant will grow. Walking on it, mowing it, pulling pieces off the plant to try and get rid of it -- all these things just spread it.