Lettuce for hens

blulagoo · « **on:** May 09, 2008, 23:20 »

Is it ok to give chickens lettuce - everyone keeps telling me not to?

Jellyhead · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:56 »

Quote from: "blulagoo"

Is it ok to give chickens lettuce - everyone keeps telling me not to?

This is news to me, I give mine lettuce at least once a week sometimes more. It doesnt seem to have any effect on them and they love it :?

blulagoo · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2008, 10:40 »

Thanks Jelly - I will resume then as mine love it (along with grapes, pasta, green beans, kiwi.......)

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2008, 21:58 »

Lettuce was said to contain a laudanum like substance (lactucin). But this is not found in cultivated lettuce. Here is an interesting article about it.

I think we could assume even as it is talking about rabbits and guniea pigs that the same would apply to chickens:

http://www.galensgarden.co.uk/vegetables/lettuce.php

pushrod · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2008, 22:24 »

I always give the outer leaves of the lettuces that i grow to the hens - no ill effects so far.

muntjac · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2008, 23:21 »

oi feeds em loads as does aggy. only prob we found they hop about loike bunnies :roll:

babe · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2008, 23:32 »

Quote from: "muntjac"

oi feeds em loads as does aggy. only prob we found they hop about loike bunnies :roll:

loike??? loike??? munty.... you aint no suffolk laddie now ya know boiy

peggyprice · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2008, 22:24 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

Lettuce was said to contain a laudanum like substance (lactucin).

One of the first words I remember learning from a book was 'soporific' - thanks to Beatrix Potter; Peter Rabbit & co ate lots of lettuce and fell asleep and Mr McGregor tied them all up in a sack. If I remember rightly ...

Perhaps if I fed the right sort of lettuce to my chickens it would slow them down long enough for me to catch them now and then ...

james419 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2008, 06:13 »

Our goslings are munching like mad and every 20-30 minutes they all lie down have a quick nap and then off they go again - much to the amusement of the kids(baby goats - non of the 2 legged kind)

Jellyhead · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2008, 08:27 »

Quote from: "james419"

Our goslings are munching like mad and every 20-30 minutes they all lie down have a quick nap and then off they go again - much to the amusement of the kids(baby goats - non of the 2 legged kind)

Don't believe you :shock: need photographic evidence I'm afraid :roll:

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