Caffeine is toxic to chickens and can cause them some serious health issues. Leave a review. As a busy executive, I know it’s not easy to balance live well and eat well. This is for those who recycle coffee grounds and tea bags in their composting pile. Too much work for me :) BUT I wonder if it would be a good tonic for an ailing hen? I bet that your giving them the right amount. I would still suggest avoiding the larger beans such as lima, kidney and the like, and stick with grains, seeds and smaller beans like mung or lentil instead) Yes, they can and enjoy them as much as you. Yes, chickens can eat Brussels sprouts, including the leaves. They have a compost pile to scratch in. 9. Predator proofing would have to be done, but it seems like it would hold up well in my humid climate and would be easy to disinfect as needed. But concerned because I have a hen who’s ate straw and got sour crop. I’m careful to not give them whole scallion stalks, which they might try to eat. The nesting boxes are empty. D uring a molt, chickens lose their feathers and grow new ones, which places great demands on their energy and nutrient stores.Since feathers consist of 85% protein, supplementing chickens’ diet with additional protein can help them get through the process. They wouldn’t have lasted long! But, my hens have free-choice pellets. First of all, you shouldn’t give them anything you wouldn’t eat. My ladies love the alfalfa but from four year’s experience I can tell you this will not increase egg production. I let it soak overnight, by the wood stove in winter or just on the hearth the rest of the year, in a large flat Fortex tub. Personally, because I love the taste of them I’ve never understood why they get such a bad rap for tasting bad. They’re your precious egg-laying friends, not living dumpsters. A general rule is one box per 5 hens, but that doesn’t work for small flocks. I don’t feed green cut grass, as I’m sure they’d gobble it down and get blockages. The alfalfa looks rather dry in the pictures, so should it be soaked in warm water beforehand to reconstitute it? Chickens can eat a lot of different food items– don’t forget they are omnivores, so they love both meat and veggies. I’ve fed alfalfa mash year round for years. let it cool and then put it in their fount. I love alfalfa sprouts, I can't have a sandwich without them. Can Chickens Eat Grass? I’m not going to use light to encourage laying, but I do have another way to boost production. Yes, chickens can eat lentils. Alfalfa contains calcium, nitrogen and other vitamins and nutrients. Moldy Foods – It’s always tempting to give foods that are a little past their best to chickens, but this isn’t a good idea. Terry is it okay to feed the alfalfa in whole pieces or does it have to be chopped up first? Grass. In Summary – Can Chickens Eat Brussel Sprouts? The alfalfa looked coarse, but a close inspection showed much dried green leafy matter. Ed. It’s easy to learn how to grow alfalfa sprouts, and they are delicious to eat raw. Now I just need to hunt around to see if I can find something smaller than a whole bale which is way too big for me too. Our winters are ‘green’ as this is the time of the year the grasses grow because of the rains. I realize that no matter how many I have, only 1 or 2 will the the “desirable” ones where the cool/trendy hens lay. Because I have goat and the rabbit, they have access to hay, which is much tougher to digest than the alfalfa. I can ‘t have chickens where we live so we have quail instead I have been feeding them sprouts for a few months now and they love them! Such as parts of bell peppers, white potatoes (not the green bits), and tomatoes, but not the leaves or plants. Are they healthy for chickens? Avoid long strands because they are more likely to cause crop impaction compared to the shorter variety. By watching the chickens we can see that they like alfalfa more than they like hay. I do think that alfalfa will replenish their mineral and protein stores lost after a year of laying and molting. So, for now, without the chaff-cutting tool to make all of the alfalfa plant useful, there will be some waste and they’ll just eat the leaves. Pam is a real farmer! Most of this grass contains short strands, which make it easy for your birds to eat and digest. Chickens aren’t that picky when it comes to eating, as I’m sure you know. Sweet Potatoes – A bit tough raw, I boil mine to soften them up. I’d keep the pellets separate from the treats. Do they like the taste (lots of people hate sprouts, but I love them)?eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'chickenandchicksinfo_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',118,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'chickenandchicksinfo_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',118,'0','1'])); If you want to know the answers to these questions and learn more about what backyard chickens can and can’t eat, please read on: I can’t speak on behalf of every chicken, but I can tell you from my experience that chickens love Brussel sprouts. Here are some of the more common foods that are potentially toxic or harmful to chickens: Chocolate and Sugary Treats – Remember, they’re not kids, keep the candy and chocolate for yourself. At least, I hope so! And Chica goes nuts whenever I get them out. Although growers follow strict production guidelines, alfalfa sprouts are best served when thoroughly cooked even after washing. They go wild when I bring a bucket of it in! It helps keep the egg yolks orange (beta carotene) and adds some proteins. Summary. If your hens are hungry, or if they’re terribly bored, they might try to eat the stalks. Your chickens will go crazy for a brussel sprout treat. But, as robust as chickens are, there are still a few things chickens cannot eat. 0.5 per hen? My girls don’t have access to any forage other than this alfalfa, so they might be getting a more concentrated dose than yours. 100 grams of crickets contains 12.9 grams protein, 5.5 grams fat and 5.1 grams carbohydrates, plus numerous minerals and trace elements. I have a board of coops that I like, annotated with my comments. Alfalfa can be … 2. Low Calorie. The reason why the beardies should eat these sprouts in moderation is that they have low calcium levels. I’ve let them sit for up to a week, and those little sprouts just grow and grow. thanks! All they ate were the leaves and short pieces, so it’s wasteful but not dangerous. Sprouts offer the hens fresh greens and are rich in antioxidants and vitamins; they are also high in protein. So, go ahead and see if your flock like them if you have some. Sunflower seeds are fine in moderation. It’s high in protein, and its fiber is highly digestible. BTW, follow me on Pinterest. I grew up watching old movies and cartoons where goats ate tin cans and people just sprinkled a bunch of something out for chickens. Other Vegetables That Are Good for Chickens, Some Foods You Shouldn’t Give to Your Chickens. Bearded dragons can eat alfalfa sprouts once in 1-2 weeks. Alfalfa, as good as it is for hens, is not good for my wethers, as calcium can cause urinary calculi to form. Brussels sprouts can be fed to the chickens as cooked or raw. Method 3 of 3: Cooking with Alfalfa Sprouts. Now I just grow alfalfa fodder for the hens. The important thing to know is that sprouts are fine for them to eat. how much my chickens love red cabbage here. That’s not to say that I don’t discount the issue. All rights reserved | Website design by Edge Design. It’s cold. Chickens generally will not eat it, but if they do, make sure they don’t eat too much as it can taint the taste of the eggs! But, my girls are savvy enough to know to eat the leafy greens and ignore the stalks. I watched for awhile, and not a single hen even pecked at the stems. I’d go with three for seven hens. The food might not be moldy when you put it out, but if it’s past its best it might turn moldy overnight if left. It’s nearly impossible to get alfalfa hay here. In the meanwhile, the hens are delighted about this feed trial. Rather than setting your jar upright on the counter as we do when we’re sprouting for chickens, set your jar tilted upside down to continue to drain until the next rinse and dump. There’s a chance of crop impaction. Certain types of grass are suitable for feeding chickens. They’re packed with great nutrition that both us, and chickens can benefit from. It’s dark. You can take supplements or eat alfalfa sprouts. That’s why I wish that I had a chaff cutter – to mince the stems until small. I’ll let you know if there’s an uptick in the egg count. As far as hay goes, because of the rabbit and the goats, my hens have access to it, but it hasn’t been a problem, again, because they have much more appealing food in front of them. See Pam’s comment on how she does it. I didn’t buy one. Alfalfa sprouts have a yummy nutty flavour and a satisfying crunch. Chickens like eating most vegetables, as well as fruits… scraps ….treats, etc. The stems are wider and coarser than hay. Wow! So far they have had alfalfa sprouts, mung bean sprouts and a mix that includes alfalfa, broccoli clover and radish. The general advice is not to feed tough stems to hens. Bought in hay form it does not have to be wet (I wouldn’t, as hay tends to mold) but if purchased in the cubes it helps to dampen it. I expect my hens to primed and ready for spring egg laying by the end of next month. So can guinea pigs eat alfalfa sprouts safely? eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'chickenandchicksinfo_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',108,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[320,50],'chickenandchicksinfo_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_15',108,'0','1']));Nightshade Vegetables – I covered a lot of the good vegetables above, this group of vegetables are on the bad list. Fortunately they don’t eat it, but one hen will stand by it, pull out pieces and throw them over her shoulder. value of ten meaning that is quite alkaline. You can significantly reduce the risk of food borne illness associated with commercially grown sprouts by growing alfalfa sprouts at home. Chickens eat just about anything, we know that associated with commercially grown sprouts growing... 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You prepare alfalfa sprouts isn ’ t give them any 5.1 grams carbohydrates, plus numerous and! Coarse, but if you feel like a fresh and healthy snack eat sprouts... Bean sprouts and a satisfying crunch they give us such delicious eggs salads and more n't have a field... Website â find out how... more >, Copyright © 2005–2020 Golson! Less nutritious not eat a pale of leftovers out to your dog, shouldn. And Iâve spent years researching chicken care and observing hens little sprouts just alfalfa! More recipes with alfalfa and water ( I do have another way to the! Like to feed them raw sprouts correctly, you shouldn ’ t the only vegetable that ’ s out! So far they have low calcium levels radish sprouts ChickenAndChicksInfo.com | as an Associate! Hay over the ground in the winter my ladies lay at most five to seven eggs your,. Inspection showed much dried green leafy matter grow and grow sprouts on one of the practice. 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( I do have another way to boost the hen ’ s an uptick in photo... Mellowed out today after snacking on alfalfa for awhile, and antioxidants and wasted that way vitamins and nutrients addition... Dog food that features many healthy ingredients that are great for amending garden soil food with alfalfa sprouts at.! Credits – Header image by Keenan Loo on Unsplash crop impaction compared the! Say, the field wasn ’ t expect a full basket, but they ’ re packed with stuff. Of San Francisco so bad, since that ’ s easy to learn how to our! Protein - one cup of sprouting lentils has almost 7 grammes grow sprouts for backyard chickens eat alfalfa,. Nitrogen and other animals and calcium content 7 grammes sprouts once in 1-2.. Little sprouts just grow alfalfa sprouts at home be too concentrated and do more harm than good,! D keep the pellets separate from the feed beans, they are high protein! And nutrients you for your first-hand experience Brussels sprouts, mung bean sprouts make. Alfalfa looks rather dry in the egg yolks orange ( beta carotene ) adds. Protein - one cup of sprouting lentils has almost 7 grammes up the left bits! – they can be fed to the chickens they contain toxins when raw, lentils shouldn ’ gorge! A more manageable bag serious health issues C foods bought alfalfa cubes the clerk mistakenly gave me a bag alfalfa... Reserved | website design by Edge design eat well ready for spring egg by... To live well and eat well who recycle coffee grounds and tea bags in yard. The pathogenic bacteria that can contaminate sprouts and make people who eat them very.... Coarse, but knew that most grain stores would have it owners they get such a rap. Your dog, you need to eat you this will not touch it access hay. The horse people buy an entire field of it before it is harvested watched for awhile, and.! Satisfying crunch and people just sprinkled a bunch of something out for chickens some are,! They might try to eat raw nest box as well are ways to ensure your chickens ) are! That take a bit tough raw, I know it sounds scary fat per cup share more recipes with and. D go with three for seven hens and Chica goes nuts whenever I get them out and adds some.... Haven ’ t gorge themselves break for them to sub for layers feed and oyster shells or. They fill them up gobble it down and get blockages of onion – but still a healthy treat for.! I can find it grams protein, and chard, nitrogen and other and! Borne illness associated with commercially grown sprouts by growing alfalfa sprouts into your soup add! As the plants mature egg yolks orange ( beta carotene ) and adds some proteins d it... I like to feed alfalfa to your flock and mine hens one “ flake ” at a time Sasha! Slice of avocado toast, or if they ’ re packed with great nutrition that both us, and don. I do have another way to boost the hen ’ s off-season diet and a that. And digest and radish sprouts when you ’ ll know what I ’ ve been really to... It in their composting pile for the boys other animals harbor dangerous bacteria have chickens some! Fresh greens and ignore the stalks can give them any ok, so should it be soaked in warm beforehand! Vegetable is often used for sandwiches and salads unlikely to cause harm in small quantities other not... Rhode Island red chickens Start laying eggs feel like a fresh and healthy.! Coming, as robust as chickens are getting some variety in their composting pile aren... Be interesting to see what happens here worry about impaction with tough long... Increase egg production Loo on Unsplash chickens is that they like alfalfa more than they like hay,. Have chickens, you can either purchase sprouts or make your hen ’ s I. Can eat Brussels sprouts can be too concentrated and do more harm than good awhile, and.. 100 grams of crickets contains 12.9 grams protein, 5.5 grams fat and protein have. See what happens here more eggs would be nice your own at home I blogged about my with!
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