The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: scotelf on August 24, 2011, 05:20:57 pm
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HI, I've only had my hens for a few weeks and gradually finding out what they can and can't/won't eat. Can I give them broccoli? Should it be raw or cooked? Thanks in advance and sorry for my newby questions in the coming weeks and months, of which I am sure there will be many :-[
Should mention they get layers pellets and corn too!
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Mine get broccolli stalks and leaves, they love them.
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Mine hated it, cooked or uncooked. I know you're not supposed to feed them avocados or cucumber (just thought I'd add that).
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yes can feed them, quite a few people hang them up inside a run to give hens something interesting, they like pecking the stems but wont eat it all as such
James
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hi
ours love broccoli :yum: we hang them up on string and theydevour them
Mandie
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Ours love any greens - gives natural colouring to their yolks too :yum:
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Mine hated it, cooked or uncooked. I know you're not supposed to feed them avocados or cucumber (just thought I'd add that).
Mine get cucumber, not too often as I believe it can cause diarrhoea, but it's certainly not killed them yet
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Hi, our hens love most things green including broccoli hung up but there real favourite is kale which we grow especially for them as they love it so much and I'm sure must be very good for them. If they escape they make a bee- line for the kale patch. Lettuce is another firm favourite and also gets them running at a dash to me. Any outside leaves or bolted lettuce gets given to them. I think anything green like that breaks the boredom and monotony of daily layers pellets and corn, always fed as an extra though. Good luck with your hens, enjoy them. I have had hens for 15 + years and love my girlie's.
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The only veg I am not sure about are parsnips and beans, I don't know where this caution comes from exactly. Everything else they get. They prefer lettuce to brassicas but do peck at them eventually. :chook: :&>
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Thank you, I am just worried in case I give them anything wrong to eat which isn't good for them. One lot ate the broccoli, the other pen didn't. They all like over ripe strawberries though!
It's good to be able to come on hear and ask questions. I have a really nice neighbour who has helped me a lot, but I don't want to bother her all the time with my questions. If they aren't urgent I just save them up until I see her :) I've learned a lot by reading the old posts too.
I am really enjoying having my hens, they are all different characters.
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Get some pics on elf, we all like posts with pics :D
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Okay, will try some pics after lunch ;D
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(http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/th_Chooks0707.jpg) (http://s330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/?action=view¤t=Chooks0707.jpg)
Wendy the wandering Welsummer and her baby Buffs at the beginning of July.
(http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/th_Hens260811.jpg) (http://s330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/?action=view¤t=Hens260811.jpg)
Wendy and the big Buffs now
(http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/th_IMG_2131.jpg) (http://s330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/?action=view¤t=IMG_2131.jpg)
Two of my new girls
(http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/th_Robandisa.jpg) (http://s330.photobucket.com/albums/l429/scotelf/new%20adventures/?action=view¤t=Robandisa.jpg)
Third of the new girls
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Lovely girls! If you want to make a treat with veggie stalks and odd bits you may have (from the allotment ;)) you could steam them all or microwave them in a little water (in your garage ;)). Blend them up and add some porridge oats to make a yummy mash. I am sure you know about the rules on not feeding food to your animals from your kitchen. Which we all assiduously obey, of course. ::)
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lovely photos, thank you for posting them :wave:
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Great pics elf, thanks for that, always good to see pics as everyone is nosey to see what everyone else has got. Aren't Welsummers just lovely, we have a few - they're a bit ferral but the cockerel who accompanied them is very gentle. And your new girls look like they will be good layers. Ours are queing up for rice crispies and milk these mornings, they squash themselves on to our window sill to be first. Now where's that camera...... :D
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Thanks for the pics. They look great healthy happy birds, well done.
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I just got my Isa Browns at Lanark market a week and a bit ago, but they are helping lots at getting me used to birds again. I haven't handled birds since I was 11 when my Dad had racing pigeons, Wendy (Welsummer) is awfully flighty, whereas the Isa's are happy at being lifted and held, I'm used to bigger animals and I'm frightened of hurting them :-\ The Isa's are POL so should have some nice eggs soon. Wendy had gone broody. And I think the Buffs - one is a cockerel, and the wee Buff hen is still too young to lay. Anyhoo, they are my first wee group of chickens and I am loving having them ;D
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They're beautiful Lynn. I had Welsummers some years ago - beautiful nutty brown eggs. But the hens did take a bit more taming than others I'd had - and nothing is as tame as a 'brown hen' hybrid. My little Arfer used to come and be with me in preference to the other hens when I was about, would follow me on a walk (2 people, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a hen ::)), climb up and sit on my lap if I sat down, etc.
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Thank you, the wee Isa's will have to be named soon, but yes, they love to follow me about the pen, I'd let them out to wander more but Mr Fox would have them. I just keep moving the pen to fresh ground. I keep trying with Wendy and the Buffs - but agree with you Sally, the wee brown's are much more chilled out.