Spinach and Oxalic Acid

[rosemarythyme]

My birds really enjoy spinach so I've always given them a bit when I have it, but I've always felt a little guilty in admitting that. I figured if they only got it on occasion and in moderation, it couldn't be worse than some of the other stuff I've seen people feeding chickens. Good to know that it's not something that I need to worry too much about.

 

[casportpony]

I'm likely the source of the oats thing. It's one of those complicated subjects where too much of a great thing becomes bad and it's hard to define what too much is, because there are other variables and factors. Read up on beta-glucans and you'll see the complexity.

I just searched for posts on BYC where you have mentioned oats and this seems like an interesting subject, and I'd like to know more. Maybe we can start a new thread about oats!

 

[rjohns39]

I think it would take a lot more research to ensure we don't propagate misinformation. It's an incredibly complex subject and folks have already interpreted what I've said as "oats are bad" but they're not, they are one of the super foods.

 

[casportpony]

More info:
Oxalate: effect on calcium absorbability.
Heaney RP1, Weaver CM.
Author information
1
Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178.
Abstract
Absorption of calcium from intrinsically labeled Ca oxalate was measured in 18 normal women and compared with absorption of Ca from milk in these same subjects, both when the test substances were ingested in separate meals and when ingested together. Fractional Ca absorption from oxalate averaged 0.100 +/- 0.043 when ingested alone and 0.140 +/- 0.063 when ingested together with milk. Absorption was, as expected, substantially lower than absorption from milk (0.358 +/- 0.113). Nevertheless Ca oxalate absorbability in these women was higher than we had previously found for spinach Ca. When milk and Ca oxalate were ingested together, there was no interference of oxalate in milk Ca absorption and no evidence of tracer exchange between the two labeled Ca species.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2801588

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ok, not to be simplistic here but it's kinda like "if you eat, butter, coffee, sugar, margarine, eggs, (and I could go on but right now I can't think of anything else) you are going to die in a year? And then in a couple of years they totally reverse that?

 

[Shadrach]

I'm likely the source of the oats thing. It's one of those complicated subjects where too much of a great thing becomes bad and it's hard to define what too much is, because there are other variables and factors. Read up on beta-glucans and you'll see the complexity.

I just want to make it clear that I was not referring to anyone on this site regarding the terribly misleading article.

 

[casportpony]

I just want to make it clear that I was not referring to anyone on this site regarding the terribly misleading article.

You're talking about the chicken chick one, yes? Lots of misinformation on that site.

 

[Shadrach]

You're talking about the chicken chick one, yes? Lots of misinformation on that site.

I am, yes.

 

[Perris]

oxalis, in a pretty purple-leaved variety, grows like a weed in my lawn and on my terrace, and is constantly grazed by the flock, which loves it (and keeps it in check, without overgrazing). Thanks for this thread @casportpony - now I don't need to worry about it! (I am assuming this plant contains oxalic acid and may even be where it was first identified.)