fast growing and leafy

upert · « **on:** February 11, 2009, 23:38 »

i want to feed my chickens as many greens as i can grow in the space i have available on my plot, it makes their eggs yummy, what's the fastest growing veg? it'll need a lot of leaf as they're hungry chickens. maybe spinach? chard?

naturally i shall not only be feeding them greens.

digalotty · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2009, 23:44 »

leaf salad grows quick swiss chard yummm, to good for chickens

Salmo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2009, 23:57 »

Any of the brassicas. Kale, cabbage, calabrese, cut at any stage of growth. Bonus crop of catterpillars.

woodburner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2009, 00:39 »

They're supposed to like comfrey, though I haven't noticed mine show any particular preference for it.
Alfalfa/lucerne is grown for animal feed (generally, not just chickens) and it is high in protein.
Fat hen (so probably all chenopodiums) is popular.
Chickweed is supposed to be popular too, but I haven't got much.
Brassicas are frequently recommended but I have yet to grow any to maturity lol

Stripey_cat · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:49 »

Traditional brassicas are generally quite slow-growing. Try some of the faster sorts (I think Cima di Rapa has strains that crop in about six weeks), or fast-growing salad leaves. Will they eat radish tops? If so, you can get a bonus crop for yourself!

andreadon · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:24 »

I did broccoli this year and the leaves of that have been popular.
Plus! I got caterpillar things on them and the chickens loved them!!
Bug control as well as leafy veg!

upert · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2009, 19:06 »

my ex batts didn't know what to do with caterpillars and left them well alone. the kale i sowed in autumn has struggled, even under cover. it would hardly provide a mouthful. i'll sow again soon though with more realistic expectations of feeding my chickens kale over next winter.

i'll try the rest. thanks.

andreadon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2009, 20:51 »

How weird - with ours it was the opposite - the ex-batts loved them and the originals left them alone!
maybe they thought there was something wrong with them if those scraggly things are eating them!

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fast growing and leafy

upert

fast growing and leafy

digalotty

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woodburner

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andreadon

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upert

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andreadon

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