The wonders of watermelon....or not

[whoopinha]

My girls LOVE watermelon. And they are lucky that we ALWAYS seem to only eat half of a melon before we lose interest! I m not positive, so I would love some input from others.....They eat the rind and all....nothing is left.

I have noticed egg production dip after the melon feasting. It has happened twice and I am wondering if anyone else has seen this with melon or any other treat?

I would hate to deny my girls (spoiled girls) a favorite.

 

[lovemychix]

Mine eat the whole thing too.

 

[bluey]

Too much fruit feeding may result in a lower protein intake, which may lower egg production. Treats in moderation for maximum egg production.

 

[upthecreek]

I have seen young fowl feed on melon and get the melon juice on their face and this drew the mosquitos to them and then came the dreaded Fowl POX !!!!

 

[AnnesChicks]

I keep a scrap bowl on the kitchen counter and they are happy to eat all my veggie and grain scraps (noodles, tortillas, bread etc) They are really wild about watermelon rinds and canteloupe rinds and seeds. Several times a week they get grass, dandilions and so as cuttings tossed into the pen. All is eaten with great gusto.

I don't know if this is affecting egg production, we are only three weeks into eggs and only two of the oldest are laying. But our shells are very hard, the yolks are a nice dark orangy yellow and I have got a couple double yolkers out of new layers. My mom who grew up on a farm said that is a sign of a well balanced diet.

I'm watching this thread with interest in hearing from more experience chicken keepers.

 

[gocrow77]

Mine eat watermelon and other fruits and veggies all the time. But, they are not old enough to be laying yet. Mine do NOT eat the rind, just the pink and part of the white. After it's been in the coop for a few days I toss what is left away. Mine go nuts for our corn on the cob leftovers - this is the only corn I feed them though.

 

[princessmama]

Quote:
I thougt female mosquitos only ate blood??? In that case the fruit juice wouldn't attract them right?? They would be attracted to the chickens anyway to drink their blood.

 

[Gonzo]

I was looking at Meyer Hatchery's catalog today, and they said not to feed egg laying hens fruit, that it will completly stop egg production, and will take around 6 weeks for them to lay again.. I wonder why that is?