Silly Question - but can chickens have jerusalem artichokes?

[Iamaqte]

My boss just piled a bunch on my desk and I know I wont eat them all so i was just wondering if anyone knows if they can eat them? I was going to boil them up so they are soft for them.. Any thought?

Also thinking of planting it near their coupe.. Can they eat the plants?

Just wondering....

 

[devora]

I remember this was a good discussion:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=10281

Good luck w/ it.

 

[Iamaqte]

Thanks so much!! I am planting my this weekend...

 

[bayouchica]

Hi Iamaqte,
My chickens love them raw, maybe you can just toss them in the blender for smaller pieces. When ya get some growing,they are a great cover & chickens & ducks love their leaves.They are some hardy plants.
Artichokes are real good in a stir fry.

 

[Iamaqte]

I have never even heard of them till my boss asked me about them and then gave me some. I think i am going to save a little for me to try and then plant the rest in my chicken coupe. I really have been trying to find edible plants for my babies coups that chickens and ducks can both enjoy and from what I have been reading.. this might just work! Any other ideas on plants in the chicken coup? I was thinking about planting tomatoes, strawberries, blue berries and such around the edge of the coupe to give them all day treats. But i really want something in there that wont die in the winter time.. It just looks like a dirt patch now... mmmm so many ideas.. so little time....

 

[bayouchica]

My chickens love squash & I'm going to plant a large watermelon patch next yr.They freak over watermelon & so do the ducks. Sounds like you've got some great ideas.

Maybe for now, try some winter wheat. I guess that would grow up in Pa. I usually plant some in a protected spot till it's big enough & then let the chickens destroy it,lol.

 

[Iamaqte]

Thats a good idea.. dumb question - do u just plant wheat grass seeds then?

 

[bayouchica]

That's okay

I'm not the best at explaining stuff most of the time. My bad.

I bought a 50lb. bag of winter wheat seeds at the feed store.I just rake an area & toss the seeds on the top of the ground. It doesn't take very long for them to sprout.

 

[Iamaqte]

Do u think if i plant them now they will grow before winter hits?

I am just trying to think how to keep the chickens and ducks out of it.. Maybe I will fence that area off so they can't get in...

I heard if i put hay on top.. that helps it grow. What do u think?

 

[bayouchica]

Yeah, I think the hay would work. I'm no garden expert either,lol.

If ya can fence off an area that would work.
I guess the winters up there are pretty bad. I've bought new kitty litter pans to grow some wheat seeds for my baby chics,maybe if the weather gets bad up there you can try that.