When we first started on the chicken journey, we planned to feed the minimum amount of layer pellets we could get by with while letting them free range for the majority of their diet. Of course if we could save a little more on the feed by tossing out some kitchen scraps, then that wouldn't be a bad thing. But what chicken scraps would they eat? Would they turn their little noses up at something that would then lay rotting in the yard until I finally
nagged until DH couldn't take it convinced DH it would be a good idea to remove the offending "stuff"? >>shudder<< HA! I repeat HA! Every since the first trip out with a bowl of scraps that was cautiously tossed out for the little dears, it has been impossible to walk out the back gate with any thing that remotely resembles a food container and not be stampeded. Those birds love EVERYTHING. And they literally send a shoutout to any of their friends who weren't lucky enough to see the goodies coming.
Now, if I read your thoughts correctly, you're thinking: MAYBE those Hoosier Chickens are being underfed at Hoosier Girl's place. Maybe they can't find enough to scratch up around that little acre. Maybe someone is holding out on the layer pellets. HA! Trust me, these birds are not suffering from malnutrition in any way, shape, or form. They. just. like. to. eat.
Not only do they scratch up bugs, and devour scraps, and force Hoosier Girl to make a weekly trip to the farm store for more pellets, oh no, they have also discovered the all-you-can-eat buffet in my garden! So this year, we did a little preventative maintenance- a border fence.
Sooo my dear friends. what I have learned in regard to the question posted in the title is: a better question would be, "what won't chickens eat?" Hopefully the little fence will deter them from the plants that will be going in here.
Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
