[avilla]

hi all

we have recently aquired 2 chooks,am just wondering what greens you all feed your chooks as ours seem a bit fussy

We have tried feeding them cabbage(chopped finely and hanging one from the run) but they seem to be not intereseted.

 I hung a lettuce up the other day( dont want to keep giving them this thou as I heard it will give them the runs) and they stripped it clean as with the corn on the cob we hung up for them.

We was just looking for some advice on any other greens we could try them on please

This will probably be the 1st of many queries over the next few weeks/months!!

look forward to hearing your ideas

Many thanks

[JohnVW]

My chooks are also fussy when it comes to green vegetables.  They won't touch raw cabbage, but chop it up small and microwave it in a tiny bit of water for five minutes, let it cool and they go mad for it.  I never give them lettuce.  Another favourite is celery leaves, they love it.  I think the secret is, when you find what it is they like, don't give them too much.  They also love cold rice and cold cauliflower stalks and leaves, cooked as the cabbage. Just be sure never to give them any leaves from potatoes or tomatoes. John

[hen maiden]

My girls love ruby chard. It's dead easy to grow too.

[CluckyChicken]

mine LOVE tomatoes, green beans and pepper.  Oh and apple, banana... etc etc

CC xx

[compostqueen]

Dark green veg is good for them, eg kale and broc. Mine love a quartered cabbage to play with and it keeps them occupied. They love chard and beetroot leaves, toms, grated carrot, halved courgettes, cauli. Some of the hard veg you have to help them with and get into it for them or break it up or grate it. One of mine has a dodgy beak so she gets help 

[jinty1911]

Mine only eat raw Spring Greens.  They dont seem to be interested in any other kind of cabbage or brocolli unless it's cooked.
Jinty

[bantam novice]

Welcome to the forum Avilla 

Good luck with your chooks and as you can see you get loads of advice and suggestions here.

[R_A_W]

My girls love peas straight from the pod, corn on the cob, cauliflower leaves, broccoli, tomatoes etc.  I gave them some broad beans once and the went crackers for them!

[otis pony]

Hi, my girls love dandelion leaves hung up in big bunches...........and they're free!!

[alisonwo]

When we weed our garden we chuck all of them into the girls, they have great fun with them, especially chick weed which they love.  The only think my girls don't like is cucumber for some reason, with cauliflowers cheap at the moment in Lidl I buy a couple of them and hang them up and they don't last long either! Alison

[helens-hens]

It amazes me how much hen's tastes differ. I've seen several messages where people mention their hens love grapes - mine weren't interested. Then Alisonewo says hers don't like cucumber whereas mine sprint across the garden to me if I they see I have some! For greens, mine also like the spring greens hung up (prefer this to other cabbage), sometimes I also split a head of broccolli and hang that up. Most left over boiled veg also goes down v.well too.

[Sue33]

My girls love beetroot leaves 

[R_A_W]

It is strange how they have different tastes...mine love grapes!

Once I gave them a few raspberries, Mildred and Gertie gobbled them up, but Bess wasn't interested. Same with chickweed, Bess and Mildred love it but Gertie isn't bothered by it.  They're all completely ravenous for pasta, tomatoes. grapes and dandelion leaves (their favourites). I could have them jumping through hoops of fire if I tempted them with spaghetti.

[Chicken Pete]

I give my chickens sliced up marrow and courgette and that causes a scramble!!  Surprised to hear that some like beetroot leaves so will try that as got a large crop left which needs to be pulled up.  Ours also like cabbage (raw) and other greens leaved plants with cooked potatoes , etc , and obviously most weeds but for some reason not groundsel!!

[jinty1911]

Just tried mine with Marrow and green beans - no joy.  Hung a stalk of Brussel Sprouts (reduced to 74p in Asda) and they were attacked, even the broody got up for some.
Jinty