Cabbage

[rick]

It seems odd that this question has only just occurred to me but it has...
I am putting out quite a few bowls of regular food for the gang so that they all have an opportunity to take what they need on the principle that they will regulate their own needs as long as the calorific content of standard food (smallholder layers) is right (which it is.)
But I also hang up cabbage (or winter greens) which also seems like a good thing. Half a sweetheart cabbage cut into sections and hung in different places. They love it and always peck it down to the stalk. Its heavy stuff and fills up crops!
How much greens do you folks provide? Can they have too many greens?
Just lately there is a bit of competition, I feel, for the food even though there’s plenty to go round and a couple of the hens (no prises for guessing) have had crops like footballs in the evening (other birds bowls are always tastier than your own!) I’m worrying that the cabbage might be a temptation to pig out a bit too much but then I thought chickens didn’t do that, volume wise at least.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Last night my girls ripped a Spring greens type cabbage to pieces in seconds, I don't think they can get too much of a good thing.

I love watching them on the grass out for an hour or so yesterday, and then into the Spring greens, I wanted to take some photos of them all, and the lovely mixture of types, but seemed a bit pointless, as I still cannot post pics.

My two new girls, Blacktails, are so friendly and bright, only had them about 3 weeks, but they follow me everywhere, and seem totally integrated with the others, cleverly keep themselves to themselves, and thus keep out of trouble.

"Fats" - No.1 Croad, is in charge it appears, but really nice with it, which goes with the nature of the hen, anybody out of place, gets a little nip, and then all is well until next time.

 

[rick]

'Fats' Croad and the Blacktails - You should take that lineup on the road!

 

[dinosaw]

I shouldn't worry about them having too many greens Rick, if you started replacing significant amounts of their layers pellets then you may notice a difference in egg production or shell quality but I think you would have to go some for this to happen. With regards to them regulating their own needs you are right providing the food isn't too calorific. Chickens will eat till they are full up whether that is full up with ice cream, mealworms or cabbage it doesn't matter which is why people need to be careful what they chuck in with their chickens, the chickens will choose the tastiest thing on offer. The level of exercise they get also comes into the mix, if they are confined they can overeat for their needs which will lead to fatness and some underactive breeds are more known for this. I had a couple of Legbar based hybrids who were constantly at the feeder while the other birds were out scratching, needless to say they got fat and stopped laying, not sure what caused the compulsion to eat in them but was told they had some Plymouth Rock in them which are heavy meat birds.

 

[rick]

Thanks Val, dinosaw,
They will be very pleased about that!

 

[valeriebutterley]

Rick,
it is really Fatima Croad her sister is Juno. I am surprised you have not heard of us already. Fatima is the number one of the pictures.

 

[rick]

What do you use to post Val? Is it an ipad like Marigold?

 

[valeriebutterley]

Swipe me, no, Rick!
It is a 3 year old Toshiba laptop, very slow and irritating but gets me there usually.
I do have a very nice Lenovo (recommended by John Lewis) a 10" tablet with whistles and bells and still in it's box, but not sure even how to switch it on, let alone do things on it. Granddaughters cannot help, as they are always busy, so I bought a book, "Android for seniors", but I might as well be reading it upside down.
I thought U3A, but my lot have stopped running classes for such things, I honestly do try, but it just seems beyond me.

Every time I see my son he asks me how I am getting on with my lovely machine, can hardly face him these days!!!

I console myself with the fact that I do hatch some beautiful rare breed chickens, and not a lot of people can say that.

My second lot, eggs from the secretary of the Croad Langshan Society produced 11 out of 12, so I am really very proud of some of my achievements.

They are delightful, penguin like again, and 2.5 weeks old now, and totally gorgeous.

 

[rick]

Ah, your right. Chicks and chooks are much more interesting than computers - and they don't try to sell you stuff!
But you should get the Lenovo going - there's a 'classic' desktop setting so it shouldn't look much different, just quicker. Mind you, my Lenovo is 5 years old now and still rolling along.