The Poultry Keeper

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

Just prepared the veg for Sunday dinner and I have parsnip peelings, carrot peelings, leek cuttings... can I give this to the chucks.. is it best cooked up a bit or chopped up or left as it is.. or is it a complete no no?? Confused

We are likely to give them there first taste out of the run later this afternoon, they have been in since Thursday afternoon but I have the person who sold us the bird's advice in the back of my mind, saying they would be best kept in the run for 10 days! Confused

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Definately chopped up into bite size pieces...especially the leeks, as they are a very fiborous plant and could cause impacted crop if not broken down some prior to the chooks getting it. Wink

A day or two in the run is fine. Start letting them out. A couple hours before dusk on the first go and then lengthening their freedom time each day. They know where home is now. Wink

NannyP · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:27 pm Post subject:

Mine used to eat it, if they had to, if I chopped it up with other stuff. Maybe you could chi=op it up and see. I know you have to cook potato peelings (Mojo I think) and don't know why, so maybe cook em a bit to soften, then mash them and then see what they think?
Confused

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

4.30 this afternoon then!! Open up those chickeny gates!! Applause

debcat · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject:

mine won't eat raw peelings Confused

I have to cook them first

mojo · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: hi

boil pot peeling never feed raw ,,chop veg up into bite size bits ( size for a toodler kid) feed a little at a time if you are feeding granules (which are compleat) all else is teats so dont over do it but most chooks love greenstuff...........mojo Cool

Lisa · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject:

All chooks seem to be different. My sisters chooks would (I'm sure, given the chance) take your arm off for anything that's not pellets or grass. She runs a kiddies nursery so her chooks have more left over food than they can ever eat.

Mine are fussy so and so's. I like mine to have something fresh and raw (the grass disappeared in the run a long time ago). But they eat very little whole. They used to eat brocolli if I hung it up - but the last one just hung there and shrivelled up Evil or Very Mad

So I put any veggies or fruit in the food processor, pulse it to chop it up into pellet sized bits, and mix it in with some mash. And maybe a bit of yogurt. THEN they'll eat it.

Although they did devour a whole corn on the cob okay this weekend. But a cabbage? Whole? Forget it Rolling Eyes

Boiled up and cooked is also good. You might lose the enzymes and some of the vitamins, but there is still a lot of the goodness left and all of the minerals. And, as Mojo said, never feed potato peelings raw.

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

Hung up some parsley and they seem to quite like that, the broccoli they haven't really touched at all. They all love grapes and the mixed corn which I give them... well round about now actually! I offered up some mashed potato/celeriac and garlic Mable tried it but wiped her beak and then ignored it!! I haven't tried it on the others.

As for letting the girls out to range, did that and to be honest it appears that it is going to be more difficult to to get them out than in. Gloria (orp), Mable (Blue laced) like it outside as did Doris but she is more concerned about trying to lay an egg I think so keeps going into the house but still nothings happened! Margot (Wheaten Maran) has been out and went back into the run again and Beryl (Buff laced) hasn't been out at all!

Is it normal for hens to want to lay as late in the day as 6pm?? She laid yesterday at around 1pm as did Beryl and Doris, but it seems she wants to again today but nothing is happening. Rolling Eyes

She has just laid as we speak!! Very Happy

Lisa · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 6:23 pm Post subject:

Glad you didn't have to run round the neighbourhood chasing escapees then... but give it a few days Laughing

The books say chickens lay every 25 hours or so.... but (as Nigel, I think, said) the animals haven't read the books Wink

They will do whatever is right for them, and sometimes it takes them a little while for their egg laying internals to get into a routine.

Eggs will come when they are ready - I think they just like to keep us on our toes Laughing