Spinach and Lettuce

[chickens really]

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that it was a myth (bad wording on my part), just that I give mine perpetual spinach pretty much every day and don't experience problems of that nature.

The only thing I could find on that is that spinach contains another substance that reacts with calcium and ties it up in a form that the body can't absorb, so extremely little of the calcium in spinach is actually absorbed by the body. On the other hand about 50% of the calcium in kale is absorbed by the human body during digestion, which is pretty high. I don't know if this is the basis for that belief or not.

Mine get a lot of kale during the season, which is mid spring to mid-summer. I have not seen any effect on egg shells. I can't get spinach to grow here well enough to make it worth planting.

Yes...Although the risks are high so I never recommend it when so many other great things to feed..

 

[lazy gardener]

It's not a myth and true that Spinach and Kale is not good for layers..

My bird's egg shells are nice and strong. They eat lots of kale in season, as well as spinach. One of their favorite fall greens is RHUBARB LEAVES and they also love chard leaves. I believe that RHUBARB LEAVES contain up to 1% oxalic acid.

I place the "chickens shouldn't have spinach and other leafy greens b/c of oxalic acid" statement in the myth category based on personal experience.

 

[rebrascora]

Yes mine too seem to love rhubarb leaves!

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

My bird's egg shells are nice and strong. They eat lots of kale in season, as well as spinach. One of their favorite fall greens is RHUBARB LEAVES and they also love chard leaves. I believe that RHUBARB LEAVES contain up to 1% oxalic acid.

I place the "chickens shouldn't have spinach and other leafy greens b/c of oxalic acid" statement in the myth category based on personal experience.

Yes mine too seem to love rhubarb leaves!

Mine too! I actually told my hubby that I wanted to rip the rhubarb out because I couldn't keep the chickens out of it. They kept flying over any fence I put around it. I kept expecting them to keel over because I thought it was toxic to them. Glad to hear others have been eating it also woth no ill effects!

 

[lazy gardener]

Not to worry. If my birds seek it out when they are free ranging, I trust that they are smarter than the "they say" folks who don't know how to think like a chicken.

 

[lazy gardener]

BTW, I let the birds tackle those leaves, but I find the best use for the stalks is a Rhubarb/pineapple/strawberry jello jam. Awesome stuff!

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

BTW, I let the birds tackle those leaves, but I find the best use for the stalks is a Rhubarb/pineapple/strawberry jello jam. Awesome stuff!

That's the only reason I didn't tear them out last year! Raspberry rhubarb jam ! We have raspberry canes, so we make fresh jam every year.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm a rhubarb and ginger jam girl myself and I love rhubarb chutney. I've heard of rhubarb and strawberry, but combining it with raspberries and pineapple in a jelly sounds really interesting.

 

[lazy gardener]

I feel like we're hijacking this thread. I'm gonna start a new thread in the favorite recipes section. Please join me there, and share your favorite jam recipes!

 

[cebbell]

We have a summer garden and a small winter garden with spinach and lettuces. I don’t really measure how much I feed them of layer vs. garden treats, which I’m sure a lot of people don’t like. I feel like they, to some degree, inherently know what to eat to lay good eggs. I also believe that the treats makes tastier, more colorful yokes. Basically, I wouldn’t worry about giving them your garden harvests as long as you’re willing to give up your hard work (or just give them the dying or overripe ones).