Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: greenfingers spain on March 03, 2009, 14:44
-
Having just read the two part article about feeding chickens we surprised that no mention was made of feeding ecological spare greens from the allotment, sunflower heads,dandelion feeds (no longer weeds) a and the like. These and a raw grain feed with grit are all our well laying hens and fattening hens get ...partridge and quail have the same for ease of storage.
Since all our our gardening is ecological we avoid formulated feeds with added chemical growth stimulants etc. Remember two much about my grandmothers good ways with her hens to follow the ways of local hen houses who now produce a chicken for killong in 42 versus 80 days of twenty year ago.
-
What two part article?
I think most people on here with chooks feed them scraps from the veg plot.
I want to grow alfalfa for mine when I have enough ground cleared, so that I can get away from processed feed. (No growith enhancers or hormones anyway, but it does have soya >:( ) The wormery is coming on nicely though. :)
-
Well I am not very green-fingered I'm afraid, and still learning about natural herbs like oregano,dandelion and the benefits for chickens. I also like sprouting grain in the winter as a boost (cant seem to do that very well either!!!) I do try an rear as naturally as possible.
If you have any info regarding natural grain mixes and herbs we would love to read it! :)
-
If you have any info regarding natural grain mixes and herbs we would love to read it! :)
Indeed!
I found the articles you refer to, greenfingers. Enough people already think bought feed is the only food they can give their chooks with the expert limitiing the choice to pellets or mash! >:(
-
He's referring to Feeding Chickens (http://www.poultry.allotment-garden.org/keeping-chickens/feeding-chickens_1.php)
-
Good articles btw. But also good to know about the free foods.
I think most of trust in pellets/mash but enjoy giving our hens some variety and extra boost from additional veg and what would otherwise be wasted.
But bear in mind that some foods such as sunflower seeds may need to be rationed so they don't become overweight or suffer from renal problems.
Rob 8)
-
Are you saying that if they eat alfalfa there is less need for pellets/ mash. mine will only eat pellets if they are starving (i.e. when it snows). They prefer bugs and grass but i worry that they are getting what they need nutritionally.
-
feed my girls on a mix of organic layer pellets, organic layer mixed corn and anything going spare from the kitchen or garden. all still laying and looking good, even my new ex bats :D
Alby
-
i read all that and most of it or some of it i have picked up from just being on this site but i never knew this '
--Since the catastrophic foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 Feeding kitchen waste is now illegal---
is this true
-
i read all that and most of it or some of it i have picked up from just being on this site but i never knew this '
--Since the catastrophic foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 Feeding kitchen waste is now illegal---
is this true
Yes and no - it's certainly illegal for any commercial operation. I mentioned the feeding of waste to hens in a book and there was much legal worrying and discussions with DEFRA. Basically Virginia is playing it very cautious. I would say that in a domestic situation where you are not selling eggs or meat chickens it is up to you although there is a theoretical increased risk of salmonella. My publisher (who are Virginia's) felt it safer to leave it at illegal rather than risk misunderstanding.
You have to be so blessed careful what you say now or some idiot sues you because they didn't use common sense.
-
u can say that again john . i have a dog with major probelms an walking him scares me senseless knowing that the slightist thing he does some one may sue me for it .
my girls get mostly fresh boiled food from the packet , an the only scrapes they get is freshly peelings , if anything is more then 24 hours old i dont give it to them , i have a few ppl that leave me old food on my doorstep an offer me week old food for them but i always turn the offers away as i am carefull with what they have .
-
my girls get mostly fresh boiled food from the packet
What do you mean there karloo ?
-
They prefer bugs and grass but i worry that they are getting what they need nutritionally.
Staffschicks,
If your girls prefer bugs and grass - even with layers pellets on offer - they are only doing what Nature intended. Chickens originated from wooded areas and foraged, before man took over.
cathangirl
-
They prefer bugs and grass but i worry that they are getting what they need nutritionally.
Staffschicks,
If your girls prefer bugs and grass - even with layers pellets on offer - they are only doing what Nature intended. Chickens originated from wooded areas and foraged, before man took over.
cathangirl
Quite right Staffschicks - Bugs are full or protein and freshly growing young grass contains just about the same nutritional value as mash and pellets. Just make sure they have a supply of grit and oystershell.
-
i should of said things like pasta an rice an sultanas that kind of thing ,lol i never explain myself properly all the time
-
Not much food value in pasta and rice I'm afraid, just carbs. Not too many sultanas either, very high in sugar :(
-
i have dropped the amount they get of this stuff to just once a week as a treat as i dont want them getting fat or anything and i try to hand pick as much grass from around the allotment site as much as poss thats why i cant wait for the summer as i can grow them very fresh veges that i knwo they will love :D i think they are missing not having any marrows to attack :tongue2:.
but can i ask this a friend of mine gave me a bag of meal worms { she got it at Christmas } but the small birds in her garden wont eat them so shes given them to me for the girls even though the bag is completely sealed i dont know how old they are as theres no best before date on the bag will i still be able to give them to the girls .
-
i should of said things like pasta an rice an sultanas that kind of thing ,lol i never explain myself properly all the time
Pasta has egg in it! ( free range i hope ) ;)
-
lol true
-
Meal worms are high in protein and fat so make an excellent treat but not too many because of the high fat level.
-
Are you saying that if they eat alfalfa there is less need for pellets/ mash. mine will only eat pellets if they are starving (i.e. when it snows). They prefer bugs and grass but i worry that they are getting what they need nutritionally.
Yes, it's high in protein, so they should need less processed feed. Mine turned their noses up at processed feed in the summer too, also worms! I take it as a sign that they have enough of everything they need. I started giving them pellets again as the grass ran out, and presumable also the bugs, and they do show more interest, but if I can dry some alfalfa for the winter, hopefully they will turn their noses up at the feed even in the winter. ;) I want to try them on field beans too. Another potential source of protein is peas but they are harder to grow.
I sypathise to an extent with the problems of what it is legal to advise, but there are still legal alternatives. Alfalfa, fresh grass, peas, beans, whole grains, even weeds, are all definitely legal, so too are trimmings from vegetables as long as they haven't been in the kitchen, (where they might possibly become contaminated with meat. ::) yes, even if you are vegetarian :blink: :wacko: )
-
I sypathise to an extent with the problems of what it is legal to advise, but there are still legal alternatives. Alfalfa, fresh grass, peas, beans, whole grains, even weeds, are all definitely legal, so too are trimmings from vegetables as long as they haven't been in the kitchen, (where they might possibly become contaminated with meat. ::) yes, even if you are vegetarian :blink: :wacko: )
I wonder if it is legal to put up an article on how chickens used to be fed before DEFRA decided to avoid contamination...
-
now that would be interesting . what did chickens use to live on years ago ..... all scraps