Growing food for chickens

[Emmylou]

Hello folks! Just wondered if and what people grew for fresh food for chickens? Mine have only had bits and bobs, like the old sprouting borocc trunks to nibble on. Thought I might squeeze something in for them!
Does anyone know if they eat stuff like "green manure" ?

[RedThorn]

I'm growing Chard and pertetual spinach for mine...

[Flummery]

I'm growing the free seeds from this month's mag - broccoli raab. Said to mature in 60 days. My first sowing is showing through now so I guess it's time to get another row in. Mine also love chard. They're currently eating up the old stuff from last year which is starting to throw up flowering shoots now. I've sown extra chard plants this year - we love it too! I would think they would go for some of the green manures. They don't mind spicy greens - they've finished up my winter supply of mustards.

[Emmylou]

Brilliant! I'll plant the raab. Got some old chard too, it needs to come out as its starting to bolt. Will get some more in. :0)
Thanks!

[Nicos]

I'm growing LOADS of dandelions!!!...oh you mean intentionally????...nope, but mine free range so they can find their own 'natural' treats!

[Burgerboy]

I grow a lot of spare lettuces for the chickens as well as perpetual spinach in any space we can find.

[lainey lou]

Mine are just munching on some leftover spinach and I am growing them some trays different greens!! Soppy lot aren't we?!

[Nicos]

Soppy???..yup!
Mine are munching on the outer leaves of lettuce and a kale which had been left to go to seed- they're loving picking off the tiny flowerheads!!

[vicky]

I cut my cabbages and lettuces etc instead of pulling and leave the stumps to regrow, they have the regrowth. Any type of brassica or beet that we don't like they will get

[Emmylou]

I'd love to have mine free ranging, but we have three labradors which would finish them off! They are confined to a run (unless Houdini gets out !).
Will put some spinach in and plant up ALL of the kale seedlings somewhere!!

[Emmylou]

Is there anything they shouldn't have? or is it a case of if they like it they'll eat it and if they don't they won't!??

[Birdie Wife]

Grow a row of sacrificial lettuces to soak up all the baby slugs, then pull the plants out when they're ready and hang them up in the run

[RedThorn]

Is there anything they shouldn't have? or is it a case of if they like it they'll eat it and if they don't they won't!??

Have a search through... I remember Lynda66 Put a post up/ responded to a post with some links in it for what chooks should not eat..... hope you find it ... she's posted a bit

[Emmylou]

Have a search through... I remember Lynda66 Put a post up/ responded to a post with some links in it for what chooks should not eat..... hope you find it ... she's posted a bit

Ta! I'll have a look when I've got a spare half hour!!

[Hilary B]

Dandelions are excellent food for most greenery-eating creatures, so if you've got them, let them grow a bit, and give them to the chooks. I would suggest getting as much root out as will come without too much bother, and hanging the plants up by the root, that way they can tear off what they like, and shouldn't get 'big bits' to bung up the crop. If you didn't get all the dandelion root out, it will regrow sooner or later (depending how much was left).