Things I have learned since getting chickens...

[Julie08]

every egg that hatches is a miracle, I never get sick of looking in the incubator.

 

[Akane]

I feed mine Potato peels 1-2 times a week. Green potato peels are the ones that are toxic to them not your regular potato peelings!

All potato peels and the potato itself contains toxic glycoalkaloids. This is more concentrated in green peels but enough of any potato peel can kill an animal or human. Also potatos are treated with sprout inhibitors. Nearly all of both types of toxin are found in the peel so these days it's not suggested to eat any potato peels and if the type of cooking allows for it peel the potato before you cook it. Chickens are more durable towards such things than people or mammals but I still would not give potato peels to them. It's just not worth it.

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/patat/PeelsBad.html
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/234-182.pdf
http://www.potato2008.org/en/potato/factsheets.html

Ok ... i did it... I forgot an egg in my pocket and sat down to pet my silkies and sat on the egg...I never thought I would do that

I was showing off my chickens to some people and grabbed an egg from a nest box and put it in my coat pocket. Someone then wanted to see my big rooster up close. I herded the rooster about the coop and completely forgetting about the egg dove forward to grab him. *splat*​

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

From Phoenix: Coats? What an interesting concept. I have put eggs in pockets, but not in a coat...not yet...and mother took two home in her purse and forgot them...but all was well!

 

[Junkmanme]

Akane,

Perhaps I am "ignorant"...however, I take "exception" to your statement that potato skins are toxic to humans. Washed and cooked, it is my impression that they contain beneficial nutrients.

I have also fed "clean and cooked" whole potatoes (including skin) to my dogs with no ill effects.

I just can't "buy" your statement about potato skins.

Sorry 'bout that.

-Junkmanme-

 

[Akane]

I'm not sure how you take exception to a statement that has no personal bearing on you. I provided several references and there are plenty more studies and reports out there if you take the time to research. So far all you've provided is one opinion and that you haven't killed any dogs (which can't digest potato peels in the first place but that's another discussion). Even a site completely dedicated to potatos mentions the toxicity and to peel them before cooking. At minimum it's been proven that the chemicals are not broken down by cooking so cooking your potato does not make it any safer. Washing your potato does not remove anything either since majority of the chemicals are found at the bottom layer of the peel next to the skin. Not on the surface where they can be rinsed away. Both those bits of information can be found in the links I provided. It's also a myth that potato peels contain most of the nutrition but I don't currently have a link on me listing the nutritional breakdown of parts of a potato. Do your own research if you want to argue that fact. The amount of toxins found in a given potato are extremely varied as the 2nd site I linked to discussed and glycoalkaloids build up over time particularly if stored in more light or a warmer place. That means 1 potato may not have any effect no matter how much you eat while another potato may poison anything you feed it to. Potato peels provide minimal nutrition to human or animal, none to some animals, and they have a risk of poisoning. Always your risk to take but people should know the facts first.

 

[whenchickensdream]

Talking about potato peels just made me hungry. I have had the best potato skins at many restaurants and am still here to talk about it. Oh, baked potatoes with the skins on - I eat them all the time. I just checked on Snopes and only the green skin and eyes of the potatoes are poisonous and should not be eaten. Even the occasional green potato chip won't hurt you (according to Snopes).

Joy

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Food is one of those very controversial, passionate issues. The most amazing thing about how controversial it is, is that people survive on such a wide variety of diets if you look at the all the regions and all the history of the world.

I will say, most things contain something that can be construed as toxic (this came a shock to me as a univeristy student), thus the counsel to eat a variety in your diet ... which is hard for us creatures of habit (like me!). That said, it was nice to have Arkane share her view and to get an alternate opinion from Junkmanme. As for me, I eat potato skins, but would now read up them if I was regularly feeding them in large quantities to chickens, which weigh a lot less than people.

 

[tdgill]

That its very easy to catch a chicken. Just don't chase it.

You adjust and adapt to chicken poo, till it becomes the least offensive poo in your yard and no matter how much they poo and how much of it can be around, or on their feet etc, you still think they are the most cuddly things you've ever held.

I never really got chickens for the eggs. Just a nice bonus afterthefact.

That I'm never more content than when I am outside with my chickens.

 

[luvmychks51]

things i've learned from my chickens

they like watching me as much as i like watching them.

and they make less of a mess than my teenagers - lol

 

[Junkmanme]

Akane,

I'm not interested in arguing with you. I merely mentioned that I didn't think it was realistically accurate.

To quote you:

I'm not sure how you take exception to a statement that has no personal bearing on you. -unquote

Oh, but it does have a bearing on ME and ANYONE ELSE that eats "irish" potatoes. We see "studies" all the time which largely "exaggerate" some "simple" findings.

I would probably need to eat 100 lbs. of potato skins (without the potato) in a 24 hour period to experience any adverse affects.

Stick with your "high-brow studies".

I'll stick with the experience of hundreds of years.

My apologies for attempting to voice an opinion "different than YOURS".

-Junkmanme-