That's worth a try! Thanks for that idea. I have a flock block too. I thought I might have to cover it (with a galvanized tub) most of the day, to keep them from eating on it, too much. They hardly touch it. I think maybe they nibble on it the most when they are waiting for their breakfast. I keep throwing new flakes of straw in, and some cracked corn and boss (for desert), and they seem pretty content.
I never thought of this - what a great idea!! I am totally going to try this. In Minnesota, you never know how long the winter is going to go.My girls love BOXES!! Believe it or not, they go crazy playing with boxes. It starts out as a bathing station, then they peck it all over, then its been turned over and they are standing on it, or in it on its side. It will end up at the other end of the run. I usually leave the box in for 2 days, by then it looks like truck ran over it!
Wow. I hope they know what they are doing. That stuff is very invasive. If I heard that chickens like zebra mussels, I sure wouldn't be introducing them into a new environment just because they could be a cheap source of food (using zebra mussels as an example, not a real consideration). Considering the problems salvinia causes, you would think they wouldn't risk it.I have read from the Agricultural Science Department of Australia that they actually came over here, took some SALVINIA with them, and are now allowing it to grow freely which it quite quickly, to feed their poultry.
It states that chickens can thrive on Salvinia. SO, I went to a local lake brought some home, placed it in a rain water filled kiddie pool and are allowing it to grow!
Now for those of you who dont know what this is, it is the greenery that is covering lakes, ponds and some streams in the southern states. When you watch one of those crocodile hunting shows based in Louisiana, the greenery covering the water most of the time is the SALVINIA. I will continue to read up on this, but it sure seems to be a cheap as hell way to supplement my feed!!! And natural!!
Is that the same thing as lilly pads but smaller?I have read from the Agricultural Science Department of Australia that they actually came over here, took some SALVINIA with them, and are now allowing it to grow freely which it quite quickly, to feed their poultry.
It states that chickens can thrive on Salvinia. SO, I went to a local lake brought some home, placed it in a rain water filled kiddie pool and are allowing it to grow!
Now for those of you who dont know what this is, it is the greenery that is covering lakes, ponds and some streams in the southern states. When you watch one of those crocodile hunting shows based in Louisiana, the greenery covering the water most of the time is the SALVINIA. I will continue to read up on this, but it sure seems to be a cheap as hell way to supplement my feed!!! And natural!!
Salvinia is a water fern. Interesting stuff. im trying it out on 5 of my 32 chickens to see how it goes... still researching all i can about it though too. Below is the first i got from googling
