[JMF]

Someone told me that you can feed chickens potato peelings as long as they have been boiled down to some kind of mash - is this ok to do.  Also although our girls are well secured our cocker spaniel does not seem to love them as much as we do - any ideas on trying to make the peace between them Thanks

[joyfull]

Potato peelings are fine as long as they have been boiled 
As for mixing dogs with chickens the answer is to do it slowly, and until you are really sure of your dog then you must keep it on a lead. One of my old dogs would never have been allowed near mt birds but the two I have now are ok - the mastiff forgets herself every now and then but after a 30 second chase she then flops down. If a chicken squats she sniffs it then walks away.

[carolbriar]

We have an electric wire round our run as one of our springers threw herself at the fence when we first got our hens.  She is the one that has always shown far more interest in them than the other two.  Hopefully it will keep Mr Fox out aswell.  We always put our three dogs in their dog run before we let our hens out for a short free range.  Its just safer that way.  Although our dogs are primarily pets my oh uses them as working dogs so picking up game comes naturally to them.  I wouldn't risk letting any of them out together just in case.

[evie2]

our girls love baked potatoes and pasta, suddenly we  have a surplus at every diner time 

[PaulineM]

I remember my granny (nearly 40 years ago) boiling potato skins with nettles for her chickens. I will be trying this some time soon 

[lynnsb]

I gave mine some spaghetti yesterday and they went mad for it and chased each other around trying to pinch each others-it was hilarious to watch

[Spana]

Mine got all our potato peelings, boiled for about 20 mins, drained and fed hot.
There is one line of thinking that starch is not good for hens and that its not a natural thing in their diet.  Another line is that its OK.
I just know that mine get them and love them I used to leave some of the cooking water in and mix layers mash with them but dont bother now.