The Poultry Keeper

lfreebs · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Norfolk

Until recently I always gave my hens raw veg trimmings i.e. brussels (that aren't that popular) cauliflower and greens (that they love) and they have just discovered the self-service in my veg patch and have stripped my lettuces and spinach ! Ah you have to Smile

Thing is my neighbour gives his hens cooked veg, so thinking that this was the correct thing to do I have started to boil up the veg.

Yesterday I had a very sad little Welsummer, who didn't eat all day and just sat on her coop roof in the pouring rain looking v sorry for herself (seems better today). The night before, a bit too late, I gave them their cooked chopped greens. Could this have upset her ?

May I ask you experienced henkeepers out there should we be feeding COOKED or RAW veg please ?

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2041 Location: norfolk

It shouldn't matter too much as long as they don't get too much when they are really hungry. Too stave off boredom in the henrun, I like to hang up (raw) cabbage leaves at a level where they have to do a little jump to reach them. I have never had a problem with ill health (or at least my hens haven't!) due to raw veg or cooked veg. They love to peck at apples too, so whenever you have access to windfalls put a few in.

Autumn · Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 486 Location: Suffolk

Ours love cooked carrots (not interested in raw) - and it makes their yolks relly orange!!Tinned sweetcorn seemed to be appreciated too!

casatinto · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

I always give raw veg except potato peelings which i cook first.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3469 Location: Monmouthshire

Only potato must be cooked - anything else is up to you. Raw swede, cut in half and stabbed through with a tent peg, cut side up, gives hours of fun once they decide it's edible

slider955i · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 50 Location: westmidlands

tinned sweetcorn they love it Wink

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

Hanging sweetcorn on the cob is my favourite (at this time of year when cheap enough or home grown) is great fun if it's hung a little high so they have to jump for their food which is good exercise...

I give a mixture of raw and cooked, (but always cook potato) and mix cooked well with mash to a crumbley mixture so it isn't too wet. I limit scaps to 25% maximum (and watch the pasta / potato amount!) to ensure they get their balanced diet from pellets / mash. If not you can end up with fat hens that don't lay eggs... mixed corn I use as treats only as it's around 10% protein, insufficient to produce eggs and feathers that are mainly protein...

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: Carmarthenshire

Mine don't mind if their vedge is raw or cooked - they are just greedy beggers Laughing

- although I never give them raw potato, avacado is poisoness to them too. They love cooked pasta and rice too.

Just one word of warning, if you hang up corn on the cob please make sure no dog can get it - the core of the cob cannot be digested by dogs and, if it doesn't choke them first, can cause an obstruction in their gut and, if not treated, can kill them.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

I've never heard of cooking veg for chicken, only potato peelings.

The Ladies · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Kent

My brown layers love all veg raw or cooked.
They were particularly taken by some butternut squash this week. I quartered it and they spent along time pecking the skin clean.
I have also given them half a watermelon this week. Once they realized it was food (not a stray football!) they loved it.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall

Chickens really shouldnt have cooked veg. It takes all the vitamins out of it by cooking it and you're just giving them green slush to eat.

Cooked potato peelings with some mash mixed in and poultry spice is all they need and then only in the winter as a warm breakfast.

Layers pellets is all they need in the summer plus fresh uncoooked greens and fruit occasionally. Avocado is toxic to them so don't feed them that.

The Ladies · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Kent

We have an old hand operated meat mincer and it is my 7 year old sons job to mince windfalls, slightly old carrots, runner been ends etc etc to mix with the pellets for our hens.

The other thing I have found they love recently is the skin you rub off a cooked beetroot!!

Lisleoise · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject:

Sylvia · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:18 am Post subject:

They do like to try and give us heart attacks and keep us on our toes, bless 'em.

Florence · Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

I am getting so confused by this feeding business,everyone seems to give their hens veg etc but we were given strict instructions to only give pellets ,although the breeder did comment that they love sweetcorn.Yesterday the boys,desperate to give them treats gave them little cooked sweetcorn,today one of the speckledys very off colour,ring breeder who says to come over where we are told that hen has blocked gizzard and we are given massive telling off about not letting them eat anything but pellets ..confused how we do this if they are free range.Yesterday we were out with friend who is vet who said give them practically anything