What do you grow to feed the chickens??

[Arielle]

I have been reading up on this thread and love it! Arielle I have heard you talking about growing stuff for your chickens since last year. So I decided to try it.
I went out by the runs and planted some lettuce, spinach, cucumbers and squash so far. I have a few herbs that I am going to plant as well. I am excited to see how this goes. I also just planted some watermelon and cucumbers and okra. So what we don't eat or freeze I will give to the chickens.
But I love to freeze the cantaloupe so I can have fresh fruit in the winter.

Can you all suggest any other things I might grow around the run?

Nice choices-- seeds easy to get!! FYI lettuce can be harvested by cutting tthe tops off leaving a 1 1/2 inch stump that will releaf.

I want frozen cataloup RIGHT NOW . . . for ME!! Today is a heat wave.

 

[chickadoodles]

Thanks Arielle,
I have clover and dandelions growing all over.

I went back out to the runs and planted all around them with sweet basil, cilantro, lettuce, spinach. I need to get some more seeds.
We have grass in our pasture all around the runs. We let it grow up some and pick and feed it to the chickens daily.

 

[chickadoodles]

Nice choices-- seeds easy to get!! FYI lettuce can be harvested by cutting tthe tops off leaving a 1 1/2 inch stump that will releaf.

I want frozen cataloup RIGHT NOW . . . for ME!! Today is a heat wave.

Go get you some frozen cantaloupe.

Thanks for the info on the lettuce.

I love all the melons and a couple years ago I had so much growing that I froze it. The cantaloupe did great the watermelon did not it turned to mush!

 

[Arielle]

We have tried watermelon in the past but no luck. I think it needs regular watering,

I selected small watermelons for this year--

On the lettuce maybe that applies to the looseleafe types only--- as I don't grow the head forming types, IDK if it works on them; I suspect not.

 

[chickadoodles]

We have tried watermelon in the past but no luck. I think it needs regular watering,

I selected small watermelons for this year--

On the lettuce maybe that applies to the looseleafe types only--- as I don't grow the head forming types, IDK if it works on them; I suspect not.

I have hose's going every where around the house to get to garden, orchard and chickens. I do water my plants. I know alot of farmers plant and don't water.
Yes the only lettuce you can cut and it keeps growing is the loose leaf. I don't grow the head lettuce.

I know a little about some things and nothing about others.

 

[Arielle]

me too!

always learning!

 

[quailtrail]

Hey everyone! ! I started seedlings several weeks ago as the winter in Maine was a long one. This is my first time planting for my chickens. I've only had them since mid Aug last yr. I have broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cukes, zucchini, tomatoes, egg plant, sunflower, marigolds, nasturium, thyme, basil, oregano, carrots, ...oh and some things for us too!!!

 

[Arielle]

Hey everyone! ! I started seedlings several weeks ago as the winter in Maine was a long one. This is my first time planting for my chickens. I've only had them since mid Aug last yr. I have broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cukes, zucchini, tomatoes, egg plant, sunflower, marigolds, nasturium, thyme, basil, oregano, carrots, ...oh and some things for us too!!!

glad the chooks will share!! lol Enough for everyone!!

 

[chickadoodles]

glad the chooks will share!! lol Enough for everyone!!

X2 we get the left overs right?

 

[quailtrail]

X2 we get the left overs right? 

feels like that sometimes! !!!! Lol