- Jan 11, 2009
- 2
- 0
- 7
Hello,
I just joined to add my 2 cents. As a former chicken owner (2 small flocks on an acre) I wanted to ask the owners of this site to consider adding this point to their "benefits of chickens" and "feeding chickens" sections -- chickens can and will eat ALL your veggie trimmings. This is a very real GREEN advantage over and above just having the birds, making your own eggs and compost and letting them "mow" the grass.
That is, all the rusted lettuce (brownish edges, not slimy spoiled stuff), all the strawberry and tomato hulls, carrot peels, celery/broccoli ends, parsley stems, non-green potato peels, brown edged cabbage shreds or leaves, green pepper stem and seeds, apple cores, pineapple skin, melon rinds, eaten corn cobs (they will still pick down deep and get some kernals out), beat up looking leaf lettuce and so on. How many times have you tossed a bag of shredded cabbage because it had browned edged before you could make the cole slaw? I know I do it and I'm pretty picky about using up my veggies for family meals.
In other words: All the stuff we humans could eat but don't because it doesn't look perfect or it's a seed, stem or skin. It is amazing how much of this stuff we produce but when we put it down the disposal, it doesn't seem like such a large quantity. Save it for a day or two and you'll see - it's a lot of food. Those chickens can benefit and the earth too, when we quit tossing this stuff in the trash.
I think it's important that people understand that they will eat this in the form it's created (doesn't have to be specially cut or prepared) and in so doing, the chickens will save you from putting it down into the sewer or septic system via your garbage disposal or into the trash. You don't even have to put it in a dish - they will take it right from the ground and scratch it!
I realize that there is a narrative here on the site on snacks for chickens and that there are many great things listed there. I just haven't found any place that promotes this great GREEN aspect of having chickens -- they consume all the good trimmings that otherwise go into the trash.
When we had our little flocks, they always loved this stuff and clamored around when we threw it to them. Now that we no longer have chickens, we still save this stuff for the wild birds we feed. The quail and the doves and sparrows, finches and all the rest also love these trimmings. The only veggie trash I throw into the garbage is something with mold on it or something that is slimy/black from age.
It's a great feeling knowing that all those scraps are going for food and not just being wasted. Good for our environment and good for the birds. All the other treats mentioned are great too. I just hope that this GREEN aspect is focused upon - those rusted lettuce leaves don't look great on our plate but the chickens don't care and it's good for them!
I just joined to add my 2 cents. As a former chicken owner (2 small flocks on an acre) I wanted to ask the owners of this site to consider adding this point to their "benefits of chickens" and "feeding chickens" sections -- chickens can and will eat ALL your veggie trimmings. This is a very real GREEN advantage over and above just having the birds, making your own eggs and compost and letting them "mow" the grass.
That is, all the rusted lettuce (brownish edges, not slimy spoiled stuff), all the strawberry and tomato hulls, carrot peels, celery/broccoli ends, parsley stems, non-green potato peels, brown edged cabbage shreds or leaves, green pepper stem and seeds, apple cores, pineapple skin, melon rinds, eaten corn cobs (they will still pick down deep and get some kernals out), beat up looking leaf lettuce and so on. How many times have you tossed a bag of shredded cabbage because it had browned edged before you could make the cole slaw? I know I do it and I'm pretty picky about using up my veggies for family meals.
In other words: All the stuff we humans could eat but don't because it doesn't look perfect or it's a seed, stem or skin. It is amazing how much of this stuff we produce but when we put it down the disposal, it doesn't seem like such a large quantity. Save it for a day or two and you'll see - it's a lot of food. Those chickens can benefit and the earth too, when we quit tossing this stuff in the trash.
I think it's important that people understand that they will eat this in the form it's created (doesn't have to be specially cut or prepared) and in so doing, the chickens will save you from putting it down into the sewer or septic system via your garbage disposal or into the trash. You don't even have to put it in a dish - they will take it right from the ground and scratch it!
I realize that there is a narrative here on the site on snacks for chickens and that there are many great things listed there. I just haven't found any place that promotes this great GREEN aspect of having chickens -- they consume all the good trimmings that otherwise go into the trash.
When we had our little flocks, they always loved this stuff and clamored around when we threw it to them. Now that we no longer have chickens, we still save this stuff for the wild birds we feed. The quail and the doves and sparrows, finches and all the rest also love these trimmings. The only veggie trash I throw into the garbage is something with mold on it or something that is slimy/black from age.
It's a great feeling knowing that all those scraps are going for food and not just being wasted. Good for our environment and good for the birds. All the other treats mentioned are great too. I just hope that this GREEN aspect is focused upon - those rusted lettuce leaves don't look great on our plate but the chickens don't care and it's good for them!
. Rotted stuff is even better yet in the compost, and coffee grounds are the best! All the stuff the chickens won't eat, do compost it please. Your garden will thank you.
