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training chickens to not eat "red" by using thai peppers

Discussion in 'Feeding & Watering Your Flock' started by ReiMiraa, Jun 5, 2010.

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  1. Jun 5, 2010 Post #1 of 16
    ReiMiraa

    ReiMiraa Songster

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    or any red hot pepper.

    see i got some chicks last year and they never ate the garden (tomatoes) they ate the weeds. the older flock tried the tomatoes some not much only a hand full were culled.

    my theory is that the first thing they nibbled when encountering the garden was the thai peppers (which are bright red) and learned that red is not agreeable to them. i couldn't get them to even eat overripe cherry tomatoes.

    so i have many new chicks and chickens. and the chickens are the free ranging. so i am wondering. before i let them out (when the tomatoes are red) should i throw some thai pepper plants in the coop (key: plant with peppers on it) so they can learn?

    is this actually possible? what other theories could there be for them not eating the tomatoes.

    also are peppers bad for them? besides causeing egg flavor or possible heartburn......
    let me know. my mom (who has never had chickens) thinks the peppers would kill the chickens. but i have seen them eat worse things....
     
  2. Jun 5, 2010 Post #2 of 16
    damselfish

    damselfish Songster

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    Actually, chickens don't have the ability to taste capsaicin (sp?), which is the hot stuff in hot peppers. Mine will tear apart any kind of pepper, and they particularly love the seeds.

    Also, a lot of people suggest that cayenne peppers have a good effect on their digestive system. I think it's supposed to help with worms or something, but I don't know if it's true or not.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2010
  3. Jun 5, 2010 Post #3 of 16
    al6517

    al6517 Real Men can Cook

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    Quote:Yes I am really not sure on a chickens ability to taste, leaning toward no. But once ingested the effects of a certain substance still may have benifits.

    AL
     
  4. Jun 5, 2010 Post #4 of 16
    Organics North

    Organics North Songster

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    Nope won't work. Birds love peppers. Peppers are hot so mammals will not eat them, but birds will. The seeds will pass through a bird unharmed, where in a mammal they will be digested. It is the pepper plants strategy for propagation.

    Most likely they did not like the tomatoes because they found something else they liked more.

    Personally the only solution is a fence! Either around the chickens or like us around the garden.

    ON
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2010
  5. Jun 5, 2010 Post #5 of 16
    ReiMiraa

    ReiMiraa Songster

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    if chickens do not have tastebuds why is it there are some things that they will try in a beak for a second then spit it back out.

    for example. i bought the rooster booster protein pelletts to help with some moulting. only a few chickens like the stuff. the rest look at it walk away or pick it up in their bear chew it around then spit it out.

    maybe they do not have tastebuds but a sense of smell. but still there are some things one chicken likes while the other doesn't/
     
  6. Jun 5, 2010 Post #6 of 16
    DaveD

    DaveD Songster

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    It's not that they don't have tastebuds, it's that the capsaicin isn't hot to them.
     
  7. Jun 5, 2010 Post #7 of 16
    Organics North

    Organics North Songster

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    Think about it, the hot is not even related to taste buds, if the pepper oil touches your eyes or other sensitive parts it will burn too. [​IMG]
    Chickens are just not effected by it.
    ON
     
  8. Jun 5, 2010 Post #8 of 16
    digitS'

    digitS' Songster

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  9. Jun 5, 2010 Post #9 of 16
    Chris09

    Chris09 Circle (M) Ranch

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    Quote:You would be best off putting a fence up around your garden...
    If your chickens start eating tomato plants, egg plant and or potato plant if they don't die they will be very sick because thouse 3 plants are part of the night shade family.


    Chris
     
  10. Jun 6, 2010 Post #10 of 16
    al6517

    al6517 Real Men can Cook

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    It is a know fact that chickens do not have the nessesary receptors that inable them to taste, along with smell. when folks determine or claim that their chickens love a particular food it is for reasons other than taste.

    AL
     
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