Vegetarian in reverse

[Wormhunter]

I have a cute flick of 7 chickens
They are nearly 11 months old and are still laying most days
I have only one issue I cannot solve
They will NOT eat. Fruit or vegetables, even strawberries, squash fruits,leafy greens, apples pears etc you name it it will be rotting away for days until I compost it for worm good!
I’ve tried grating it, skewing on ‘ chicken friendly’ hanging skewers, I’ve peeled, boiled or chopped to no avail
They will nibble the odd leaf on a plant in the garden, they are free rangers from 7 till 7 but as winter nears I’m beginning to worry what I can give them. Shall I try rolling veg in near juices!!!!

 

[cassie]

I had a hay feeder in my chicken pen and I put a flake of alfalfa in it. The chickens liked the alfalfa, and it gave them needed greens in the winter.

 

[NatJ]

Do they have a constant supply of a complete chicken food? If yes, then they will be fine.

If they are free ranging, they are probably nibbling bits of grass and other plants. They might be more interested in the vegetables and fruits during the winter, or they might not.

I would continue to offer them apple peels, the tops of strawberries, carrot peels, and so forth--the parts you don't feel like eating. That way they can choose to nibble them or not. But I would not bother buying fresh produce specifically for the chickens.

If you are able to have the compost pile where the chickens can access it, then the chickens can choose to eat or ignore whatever you put in it, and you don't have to decide which things are "compost" versus "chicken food."

 

[Wormhunter]

Thank you for your reply, we plan to relocate one of our compost ‘ piles’ as you advised, I’ve heard Alfalfa is good for chickens, any thoughts on giving that a try?

 

[LaFleche]

Did you buy them as started pullets from a hatchery?

 

[NatJ]

I’ve heard Alfalfa is good for chickens, any thoughts on giving that a try?

Either they will eat it, or they will scratch it around, or a bit of both.
If you've got alfalfa handy, I'd try it.

 

[Sueby]

They're picky when little, just like kids. Generally as they get older they get more adventurous in what they'll eat.

 

[Wormhunter]

Did you buy them as started pullets from a hatchery?

 

[Wormhunter]

In we grout them as pulleys, approx 3 months old they came together, it’s taken me till August to get them all to eat their layer pellets, they do eat corn but if I scatter some they will often ignore it for hours
They are laying well and their eggs are large with bright yols
I’ve been looking at growing ‘spouting seeds or fodder’ as they do like to scratch and dig for bugs

 

[Wormhunter]

In we grout them as pulleys, approx 3 months old they came together, it’s taken me till August to get them all to eat their layer pellets, they do eat corn but if I scatter some they will often ignore it for hours
They are laying well and their eggs are large with bright yols
I’ve been looking at growing ‘spouting seeds or fodder’ as they do like to scratch and dig for bugs

Dorsey POL Pullets not Pulleys!!!!