What? Chickens can't eat clover?

[the1much]

i think you all been feedin them hemp seeds first,, which they say is a doorway umm plant,,which is leading to all the other munchies..

 

[Back2MyRoots]

Chickens are just doomed! Clover's bad for them, alfalfa's bad for them, regular feed has them thar evil GMOs in it, organic feed has hippie cooties...

You just can't win!

I just had the BIGGEST giggle fit over "hippie cooties"!!! Since I just got called a hippie yesterday for starting a garden and buying some chick! (apparently, you don't even have to go organic around here to get the label....)

 

[griffinkid02]

I just had the BIGGEST giggle fit over "hippie cooties"!!! Since I just got called a hippie yesterday for starting a garden and buying some chick! (apparently, you don't even have to go organic around here to get the label....)

Funny how our nation was founded on people out farming and raising their own food, and farmers are supposed to be a conservative lot; and yet suddenly, here lately, every-time I start talking about raising my own food and not trusting government UNregulation of the chemicals put into commercial meats, I'm a bleeding heart liberal hippie. Not trying to start a political debate, just commenting on the humor of people's perceptions, lol,

 

[ButchGood]

Funny how our nation was founded on people out farming and raising their own food, and farmers are supposed to be a conservative lot; and yet suddenly, here lately, every-time I start talking about raising my own food and not trusting government UNregulation of the chemicals put into commercial meats, I'm a bleeding heart liberal hippie. Not trying to start a political debate, just commenting on the humor of people's perceptions, lol,

Most of the backyard type farmers that are trying to raise their own chemical free food and be a little more independent than the average Joe are libertarians like me. Or at least libertarian minded folks. We live by a philosophy that what every a man does in his backyard is fine with me, as long as he doesn't impede my right to do what I want to do in my back yard. We don't want any government help or interference. Just leave me alone to grow my all natural crops and raise my hormone free livestock. If that's what they call a Hippie now a days....well Dress me in tie-dye and pull back my pony tail, I guess that's what I am.

 

[Chris09]

The March/April issue of Chickens (Hobby Farms) has an article on safetly free ranging your chickens in your yard. A sidebar has a list of toxic plants. Most of these make sense...

Buckeye
Buttercup
Clover
Fireweed
Foxglove
Ground Ivy
Hemlock
Hemp
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Japanese Yew
Jimson Weed
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Lantana
Larkspur
Lily-of-the-Valley
Lupine
Milkweed
Purple Mint
Nicker Tree
Nightshade
Ohio Buckeye
Oleander
Philodendron
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Saint-John's-wort
Sudan Grass
Tulip

But clover??? That's safe for human consumption, unlike all of the others. I've read several posts where members recommend giving clover to their chickens, and my front lawn is full of it during the summer. Can anyone clarify this for me?

I think that Hobby Farms may want to a little better research before they publish there magazine.
Some forms of Clover is said to cause Bloat and Colic in some livestock but does not effect poultry.
Buttercups is said to be toxic to cattle and signs are decreased milk production, bitter-tasting milk, diarrhea, anxiety, breathing difficulties and even convulsions but I haven't read about poultry having problems with it.
Milkweed muscle tremors and spasms, bloat, increased heart rate, difficult breathing, and occasionally death. Toxic signs are more apparent in animals that cannot vomit, such as horses.
It look to me that Hobby Farm may have just took a genaric toxic to livestock list and printed it with the "chicken" artical.

Chris

 

[jdeoliveira74]

I think really people today are just spoiled and would rather eat crap then grow there own food . Some probably wouldnt even know where to start Its sad really.
Jon

 

[feathers_3]

I just had the BIGGEST giggle fit over "hippie cooties"!!! Since I just got called a hippie yesterday for starting a garden and buying some chick! (apparently, you don't even have to go organic around here to get the label....)

This is funny to me because where I'm from it's a totally different perception. Around here if you have chickens and a garden your a redneck, hillbilly, or a hick and are looked down upon by some. In my neighborhood though several of us have chickens, cows, pigs, barn cats, Jack Russells, gardens, tractors and whatever else people call redneck and it's completely normal. But when I told my fiance's Grandmother that I had chickens, an almost organic garden (working on the organic part), 8 cats, a Jack Russell named Dixie, a 13 yr old beagle named Red, and a bird dog she acted like I was raised in a barn!! I couldn't believe it because her roots are similar to mine. My whole family comes from some type of farming lifestyle and I felt really insulted. But you know what...I love all of my babies and wouldn't get rid of them for nothing! I'll own up to someone calling me a country girl because that's exactly what I am but don't look down upon me because of it. No more free eggs for you! haha

 

[wife89]

hippie cooties...LOL


Our chickens eat clover all the time.....

 

[jdeoliveira74]

Im from long island the closest I got to chickens was hatching them in junior highschool. I now have 7 healthy chickens and a garden going. I just think that we as a country need to look at things from a different perspective. Mom always said you have to take care of you cause no body else will. So they can call it what they want. My family has supported me getting chickens. My grandfather was excited and was giving advice when I was starting my flock!

 

[feathers_3]

Im from long island the closest I got to chickens was hatching them in junior highschool. I now have 7 healthy chickens and a garden going. I just think that we as a country need to look at things from a different perspective. Mom always said you have to take care of you cause no body else will. So they can call it what they want. My family has supported me getting chickens. My grandfather was excited and was giving advice when I was starting my flock!

Same here! My Grandma ran a hatchery when she and my grandpa first got married about 50 years ago and loves coming to see all my chickens and gives advice all the time. If I have an issue with one of my chickens I call her before posting up here! And my uncle breeds chickens and has several different breeds along with some mutts. But my family absolutely loves my chickens. It's my in-laws who think its weird! But oh well, me and my soon to be hubby love them and that's all that matters!!