The chickens ate my broccoli plants

[LuckysMom]

My chickens wander through the garden scratching for bugs and never bother any plants - until they discovered the broccoli plants I put in last week. They ate them right down to the stem, not a leaf left. Guess I won't be eating broccoli this year.

 

[Imp]

Guess you can try again this fall. Sorry

Imp

 

[Im4Eggcellence]

I could have warned ya... we've been feeding our chicks the remnants of broccoli we over-wintered. They LOVE it... like little piranhas on the stuff.

 

[msgenie516]

Hi,

I saw the title to your post and I couldn't believe it, in light of my recent experience! I had some uncooked mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, mini carrots) in the fridge that were a few days past the "use by" date, but not bad at all. As a matter of fact, I'm sure they were still edible. I decided I would give them to the chickens--thought for sure they would eat them. Darned spoiled chickens, they pecked at them a bit and then put their noses (beaks) up in the air! So then I gave them to my rabbits and they loved them!

As I continued to clean out the fridge, I also found some cooked cabbage that I didn't think I would use, not spoiled or anything like that, either. Well, I guess they want all of their vegetables cooked, as they ate the cabbage like it was some super special treat! So it looks like I will have to become a "gourmet" cook for chickens whenever I have some leftover uncooked veggies--can you believe it???

I thought the difference in behavior was very interesting and that you are very lucky that your chickens aren't so "picky" even though they are a threat to your garden!

Genie

 

[funkychickenowner]

dont worry give them enough time and they will make the garden look like the sahara desert! wait till the tomatoes grow they are not greedy at all they will only take one bite out of every fruit. best to keep them out.

 

[Im4Eggcellence]

Quote:
Well you didn't put any cheese sauce on it - that's the problem

No, that is strange, ours really enjoy even the left over cooked stuff.

 

[flopshot]

i had to build a wired enclosure over mine to keep the tree rats out. then they decided this year to clean out my cabbage plants. if the plants were just place you may have time to start another batch.

 

[kaiwaya]

OH i feel your pain! (see my post nuisance hens)
I bought a really nice basket of flowers only to come out a little later and find a basket of stems.
Sorry about your broccoli

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

I might as well join the club. Out of 8 sunflower plants I only have 2 left. My sunfflower bushes are gone as well.

 

[Im4Eggcellence]

The other day I was doing some caulking around the coup and using a paper towel to wipe up the excess. A bunch of the girls were up on a ledge watching me (making sure I did a good job - talk about being henpecked!

) Anyway, one of those little buggers snatched it right out of my hands and before I could get it back... 3/4ths gone!