What do you grow to feed the chickens??

[HerbGir1972]

We are seeing the row of greens peeking out of the ground,
I had a random packet of traded seeds that we're marked 'Asian Greens'
We'll see what us and the Chickens will share, I planted a whole long row in the garden.

But they'll be getting the sweet pepper plants in a little over a month (they love the leaves, I understand it tastes like spinach)

as well as some of the marigolds.
I till some back into the soil to rid it of harmful nematodes.
we're planting twice as many next year to try and keep deer away,

we're planting twice as many sunflowers to compliment their late summer feed.
we're also planting several varieties of corns,
one for decoration/popcorn (glass gems) & 1 feeding us and the chickens (Sweet Bantam Corn, I thought was fitting, and it's an old heirloom)

so excited iI've got seeds coming in the mail today

 

[Arielle]

HerbGirl-- Love what you've got growing!! Didn't know the marigolds tilled into the soil would have an effect on the nematode population.DO you use int a roational fashio, or just in areas that have vegies showing the effects of too many nematodes?

THe use of the sweet peper plant has me confused. I assumed being in the tomato- pepper- eggplant family aka the night shade, the plants would be potentially poisonous. I have noticed my sheep eat some of the nightshade in the pastures ( constantly pulling plants) but it remains the tallest p lant so it clearly is not a favorite. THis is the first group of sheep that even touch them.

WHat seeds are coming in the mail??????

 

[HerbGir1972]

I've never noticed nematodes in my soil but I have marigolds every year and they are also composted, so my plot has been getting a dose of Marigold for some years now, I' added all the flowers on my current plants into my retilling for my late summer garden space and will do the same as I till the rest, I plant to have some root crops like potatoes, carrots, & other things too so I'm taking every precaution.

Pepper leaves can be cooked down like spinach, as with other plants I'm guessing the heat has the effect on them, I've eaten pepper leaves for a long time, no Ill effects, the chickens eat them, the goats, also eat them...An herbalist told me about eating them, now we don't eat great quantity, or every meal, but they are really good, I've only eaten the sweet pepper leaves, not hot ones.

the seed I have coming in the mail are the other fall greens I plan for this late garden in 2014 but I went ahead and ordered my corn, because I know if I waited on the glass gem corn it'd be sold out

look at Victoryseeds.com they are quite reasonable for a specialty store.

 

[Arielle]

I looked at buying from Sand HIll and they too are often out-- maybe not sold out but that vermin took too many plants. Good planning on your part to get the seed you want for next season now. Actually I really love that idea.

I am realizing the limitations of rocky soil that is too difficult to till. I envy everyone that has already developed soils that can handle a tiller to make soil prep much easier.

ALl the corn that popped up is gone. THe squash remains. SO not sure of the cause of the loss. Most creatures not seem to like the brissley squash-- even my sheep will give those a pass. Howeer they will feast on the fruit once it is within reach and they dont have to touch the leafes with their nose/mouth. lol Figure the corn is not a total loss as it was a late start and my only plan was to harvest it for the sheep and horses to eat.

 

[thekatbus]

I grow dill, tomatoes, parsley, green beans and rosemary and my chickens don't bother with any of it. They prefer the weeds in my lawn!

 

[chickadoodles]

Can anyone tell me what kind of fruit tree this is? My daughters SIL needs to know before her children eat it. Thanks

 

[Arielle]

Not a berry that I recognize.

Maybe a close up of the berry?? ANd where is the plant growing: state or zone?

 

[chickadoodles]

Not a berry that I recognize.

Maybe a close up of the berry?? ANd where is the plant growing: state or zone?

Click on the pic and scroll your mouse wheel forward to zoom in on the berries. But it is growing in Molino, FL. The berries are longer than a blue berry and they have seeds in them. We are hoping it is not poisonous.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

Click on the pic and scroll your mouse wheel forward to zoom in on the berries. But it is growing in Molino, FL. The berries are longer than a blue berry and they have seeds in them. We are hoping it is not poisonous.

I'm almost positive it's a honeyberry. If it is, then it is indeed edible. Check out this link: http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2010/01/26/edible-blue-honeysuckle-a-fruit-for-cold-climates/ I know it says its cold climate, but it looks almost identical. I'm thinking it's an all around plant that tends to be able to be cold hardy.

I planted an heirloom non-GMO garden from my order from seedsavers.org-----it was an experiment. I spent $100 on seeds and I am doing multiple plantings, and I wanted to see if I could get a decent return via my garden..Its worked so far. I'm on my second planting of kale and spinach and carrots already. My chickens get my surplus lettuce, beet greens, kale and some carrots. RedHawk is my lone ranger, who perpetually flies the coop and gets into my canning tomatoes... So I go through periodically and get the henpecked green ones and toss them in. They go crazy over it. I've let a portion of my raised bed garden go native and it has: chickweed, lambs quarters, dandelion greens, arugula (it volunteered!), purslane. They love it all. That and the Japanese beetles that come with it!!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Hello PlaidBattleAxe thank you so much! I appreciate your help so much! And welcome to the thread

Sound like you are getting your grocery money's worth of vegies! That is great. My chickens love getting their share of all the vegies as well.