The Poultry Keeper

Lisa · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 8:05 pm Post subject: Forage greens for chickens?

I have some large pots and I want to grow some "chicken greens" in them to put in the chicken run. The run has mainly straw on the ground now and some bark chips. The grass disappeared a long time ago Confused

So additional greens for the chooks, somehow, are a must for me.

I've tried either hanging up brocolli, or tying bunches of weeds for them and hanging in the run, but once they're no longer fresh, they ignore them. Plus brocolli gets expensive! They ignore old cabbage plants from the veggie beds Sad

Greens on the floor of the run get ignored (my sisters chooks on the other hand demolish the kitchen scraps when they get them). The best way to feed my lot greens is to blitz them in the food processor as a kinda "green mash", but I'd like to get away from that if I could.

I've got up to 10 pots I can use, so I'm thinking they can go in the run one at a time for and then they can come out to recover and regrow in a chicken free zone. I know some plants will recover from being eaten (I had some parsely in a pot last year that got eaten down to ground level when the chooks were out, but regrew once moved and given time....

I'd like to grow a variety so they get a nice variety of minerals and benefits.

The questions is: "What to grow"?

The inspiration comes from this link and their "easy forage planting mix" (but its not a UK site):

http://www.homestead.com/shilala/supplements.html

This is what they say about it:

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

when I first had my chickens I was at my daughters with them, and they demolished her pot of coriander and radishes in no time at all. These that have now are like yours, won't touch the greens that I give them ~ I guess part of the enjoyment is picking them yourself if you're a chicken. My chickens last year liked all bedding plants especially those with white flowers. But none of them have ever liked dandelions ~ wish they did, but they just ignore them. None of them seem to be eatingmy hardy geraniums either and I have a whole bed of them all different types and colours, but they're all starting to flower with no nicks out of the leaves. What about seeing if you could get the mix sent over ~ was it highly priced or maybe deb could buy it for you and send it over.

Lisa · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks summayah - I hadn't thought of corriander and radishes to add to the list.

And your comment about white flowers reminded me of chamomile and feverfew too - both useful herbs.

Mine definitely liked hardy geraniums - I have a pink one that had somewhat overrun the garden, but not any more! Success!!

And they loved dandelion leaves I brought back from the allotment.

So those both get the thumbs up from my fussy chookies Laughing

mojo · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject: mojo here

chicorie sauvage or wild chicory a wonderfull cut and come again plant for chooks plant water and thats it do try it we use it planted in lines as well once established no work........mojo

nigel · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 9:20 pm Post subject:

Lisa

Have you had a look at Emorsgate wild seedsthey do quite a range. I've got some I'm going to use in the hedgerow I've just cleared of brambles.

Nigel

Lisa · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 10:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks for some more ideas Smile

Mojo - I'll investigate the chicory.

Nigel - I'll check out that seed company you recommended.

Doh - just realised: perhaps I should add "chick weed" to the list too Rolling Eyes

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Lisa, let me know if I need to send anything in the post to you. Wink

CP · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 12:36 am Post subject:

Mine adore comfrey. I have to fence it off for a while to recover or they will demolish it! Shocked

This year they have eaten all the flower buds off the winter pansies, stripped the wallflowers to just stalks & recently they've been eating viburnum & azalea flowers! Rolling Eyes

Mine will eat cabbage greens & cauliflower leaves, but are not keen on broccoli.

I've never thought of growing things especially for the chickens though. Maybe I should find a bit of space & try it. I'm sure it would be cheaper than buying stuff from the supermarket!

Lisa · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 7:06 am Post subject:

Ah, comfrey - we can do that. Grows like a weed! Its added to the list - thanks chicken_palace Very Happy

And you've given me another idea - edible flowers! I'm sure I've got a list in a book on growing salads... Naturtiums spring to mind too... might as well have the pots looking pretty if I can Laughing

Deb - thanks for the offer to help. I'll see what I can find over here first, and if i get stuck I'll get in touch thumbright

CP · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 9:31 am Post subject:

Trouble is Lisa, they won't look pretty for long! Rolling Eyes

My Nasturtiums last year were grown in baskets, too high for the chooks, so maybe I'll try them lower down & see if they like them!