I think this is the post your are looking for.

Here is a link that might be useful: The how To Post Pictures Is Here

LOL what a shock seeing my face as the page loaded.

Msjay-you are sooo funny!

seramas--Thanks I just could not seem to find it-will try to post a picture tomorrow.

Nelda

I'm glad they like it, but you will have to forgive me, I do not remember saying anything about what they would like. I remember talking about their ancestral diet, and about the unremarkable nutritional content of wheat grass, nothing more.

Nelda, I will look forward to seeing your pictures! I grow wheat grass for my girls in the winter too. Also, parsley for me and they love it as well. I have just started a tray of kale for them. Chickens are such joyous creatures!

Brendan, I don't know what planet you are from but I wish you would go back there.

Hi again, lets try the picture thing again shall we?{{gwi:36739}}

This is a good website that lists the nutritional content of wheat grass juice. Wheat grass juice is extracted from wheat grass and is a rich source of nutrients for all animals, birds and reptiles. Wheat grass is higher in fiber than the juice.

This is a good site that has detailed instructions on how to grow and enrich your soil to get high quality nutrient rich produce.

Here is a link that might be useful: Not just grass!

Hi seramas I have been to that website after talking to you and before I started my wheat grass. great site-

"Baby B": wheat grass has great nutritional value to humans as well as chickens-it contains vitamin E which helps with brighter colors of combs and loss of pigment in there legs, also chickens eating wheat grass will be well received into the egg increasing the Omega 3 and helping with lowering (ldl) in humans, not to mention that my hens have increased their winter egg laying production from 10-15 eggs a day to 38 eggs a day. My customers thank me why? they were having to call before them came and place an order well in advance so that I could cover everybody's order. I now have a waiting list that I am easily able to fill-and my eggs are darker, richer and very tasty-I am one of three people that sell eggs in my area-guess what they are putting there eggs on craigs list-I am not. I have encouraged my customers to go and try the other eggs and have even given them the price of a dzn to do so--guess who always come back? My customers.

Interesting Nelda. What do you sell a dozen eggs for in your area?

Seramas- Wheat grass does have all the nutrition of a fresh vegetable product, however it doesn't have appreciably more, its just another vegetable, someone who eats or drinks two ounces of broccoli or broccoli juice will probably get better nutrition from that than a person who does the same with wheat grass. Chlorophyll is the primary ingredient that generates fervor with wheat grass, yet to my knowledge no one has ever shown chlorophyll to have any action within the body outside of immediately being broken down in the stomach by enzymes, and no one has shown any benefit to tying up those same said enzymes. Also Alkalinity is something that people care about (avoid acid foods, etc.) but the pH of the food you eat has very little to do with the pH of your blood, and in most cases if you do manage to alkalize your blood your body will react by acidifying it. Wheat grass is probably better than a refined grain product, but when compared to other fresh greens it is, in a word, unremarkable.

That is what inspired my comment.

In the interest of not getting to far off topic I've made a new thread for the discussion of wheat grass nutrition.

Let me see--wheat grass is easy to grow-it grows inside under artificial lights or in front of a window. It grows in any zone. If you get freezing weather at night and it warms to +40F or above during the day you can grow it outside the year around in trays. If the soil is enriched it enhances nutrient levels. Simply easier that most other vegetables. Light levels affect the nutrient levels in most other vegetables-even lettuce.

Hi nhsuzanne, In our area they sale for 2.50 dzn. There is a place called Traders Point that sells theirs for 4.00dzn

seramas-you are right on target-thank you

I'll certainly believe that wheat grass is easier to produce indoors in winter, I was simply defending the accuracy of my prior statements.

Brendan: the more I squint at you the less I see you!

I'm sorry, I did honestly try to move the discussion to another thread so as not to interrupt yours. I do feel justified in pointing out that your comment to me did not reflect the content of my own comments in the past, and don't feel like anything I said here or before was particularly controversial.

I really am glad that they are enjoying the treat, and thought that that would come through in my reply to you earlier in this thread. I did not intend to raise anyone feather and apologize if I did so.

I have a large bale of alfalfa that I've used for the pigs and discovered that my hens LOVE LOVE LOVE to pick through it if I pitch them some. I think it is great for you to grow a treat for your hens and even aside from the nutritional value, I'm sure they enjoy it tremendously. Lori

Thanks Lori I bought alfalfa just recently and you are right they do LOVE IT! Not only do I grow grass for them but I also cook for them and I buy meal worms by the 1000 and keep them in the frig., I also give them rolled oats. Yes I know my girls are spoiled but look what they give me! Not to mention the fun and joy I have taking care of them.

I feed my hens very well with oatmeal on cold mornings, fruit and yogurt, wheat grass for greens, heads of lettuce, etc. I believe that they lay better tasting eggs and I think that if they are happy and content they produce more too. In the end, it's all about the absolute joy experience from being around them! They really are charming.

I am having trouble finding alfalfa for them it's not easy to find around here this winter.

A very good source for alpha for your birds is rabbit pellets. It can replace as much as 20% of your birds diet and not affect the protein levels. They can be moistened with warm water for the cold winter days. They go kook koo for it, you would think it was coco puffs.'lol'

have you checked on craigslist that is where I found mine That have tons of stuff on there

That's a good idea seramas. I never thought about that. I could buy a 50# bag of alfalfa cubes which would be cheaper I bet. Brilliant thanks!

I have never been on craigslist I will have to check it out. Thanks.

Hi seramas how are you doing, are you feeling better? Rabbit pellets? I would have never thought of that. On one of the above threads you said if the soil was enriched? can you explain that please!

Thanks

kook koo for cocoa puffs you kill me! you must be feeling better.

nhsuzanne, what do you eggs sell for wher you are? Yes love the rabbit pellet idea will have to investigate that!

I only have a few customers but they pay me $3.00 per dozen. It helps offset my feed costs and I am very proud of them. Each customer has their own basket (that I supplied) it's a nice touch.

Feeling better-not as much pain.

Nhsuzanne I've tried the alfalfa cubes, yes they are cheaper but more than half goes to waste. Rabbit pellets have little or no waste so in the long run they were cheaper.

WE get big Thank Yous, baked goods, canned goods, things that are hand made for our eggs--I'm very fond of the apple butter one of our neighbors gives us.

Thanks for the warning - I will keep that in mind for sure.

I give alot of eggs away to friends and neighbors and no one has ever made me anything!! Oh well. I definitely get the thank yous but no baked goods!!

Brendan: Thank you and let me extend mine to you. Lets just drop it and go on Agreed?

Have a good day!

Is it safe to assume oats and rye are just as good? Wheat wasn't grown in this area traditionally - the season is too short - I'm not even sure the Farmers Co-op sells wheat. But I have a tray of mixed oat and rye grass growing right now in potting soil. It doesn't even seem to need that much direct sun to grow well, which is great because we don't have big windows (old house). The hens love it - they suck the blades up like spaghetti. I tear chunks off and throw them that, so they have the added pleasure of scratching.

Those are nice-looking girls there nelda.

About the alfalfa pellets, do they have salt added and if so is that okay for chickens?

I think thats the best policy Nelda.

Paulns- That is a very safe assumption.

I have been giving my birds some scraps from the table that is pretty spicy. is that bad?

Seramas you said that the pellets will not affect the protein levels. I am confused. are they supposed to get high protein to get better eggs or low protein or what? I am still new at this...

I have to go to the feed store on Friday so now on my list is some wheat seeds. I hope they don't laugh at me. I assume I can buy them. Also on the list are the rabbit pellets.

Oh and did I tell you guys about the egg experiment we had at work? Everyone wanted to know what the difference was between the fresh eggs and the store eggs. I brought in half a dozen of each for our resident chef. She made quiches one from each type of eggs. The fresh egg quiche was firm and flavorful the one with the store eggs was watery and not as good. That was a success! Other than that no one has cooked anything from my eggs I give them either. Also just a note. I give my eggs away in baskets and right now JoAnns has baskets with a cloth liner in it perfect for a dozen eggs on sale for $1.50 each. When I give my eggs away in them, they always bring me the basket back.

Okay one last thing for real. I traded a dozen eggs for a rubbermaid compost bin. It is great!! I have not sold any eggs but I have found the eggs to be a great barter tool. People are very curious about fresh eggs. They sell for $3 a dozen here but barter comes out much better.

Chili peppers probably evolved to be eaten by birds, Birds are not affected by Capsaicin like Mammals are and can eat them easily, excessive spicy food is probably not a good idea, but if a normal human being can handle them then a bird should be just fine. Keep in mind that the uncooked seeds of a pepper are more likely to germinate if they go through the digestive system of a bird first.

Oats and barley, I meant - not rye.

The salt content of Purina Rabbit Chow is limited to what naturally exists in the ingredients. Depends on the manufacturer as to the protein content, most are 16 to 24% protein. They are right in the ball park for protein requirements for egg laying poultry.

Purina RC doesn't use animal fats in their products. Animal fats (and animal by-products) in manufactured feeds have a tendency to go bad and require chemical preservatives (bad) to stabilize them.

Just read your ingredient lists for Na-Cl (salt content) if it is low on the list (last 3 or 4 ingredients) it probably is not high enough to bother your birds-especially if you keep the pellets to 20% or less of their diet.

Paulns, any of the grain grasses are good. What ever you can grow. Wild bird seed is a very good seed combination to sprout and feed as a treat or as much as 20% of their diet. Growing food is always best for them-especially in the winter time. Liquid sunshine!

Seramas to the best of your knowledge do they do anything to prevent the unsaturated plant fats from going rancid?

I've always been weary of food that doesn't go bad. I understand the economic reasons for preserving food, but it really disturbed me deeply when I discovered half eaten loaf of bread at the back of my roommates cupboard that was still moist and not moldy after four months, after that I stopped buying bread. What sucks about it is that I'm a horrible baker.

Brendan, most major manufacturers of animal feed don't. They use more modern techniques keeping supply levels to a minimum so that the incoming orders are very close to production levels. The old way was in the fall was to make and store warehouses full of produce to be shipped far into the future.

My brother swears by his bread machine.

msjay I bought my wheat grass $18 for 50 lbs I plan on sectioning the fenced in area off from the girls and planting the wheat grass for them to eat this spring/summer. They really do love the stuff and it is so easy to grow-

Have a good day!

Nelda1234, be sure that you let them in when it is young, beyond the first few tender inches wheat grass will become unpalatable, then you will have a plot of wheat to deal with.

seramas I try to keep my electronic gadgetry to a minimum. Also a note, its only liquid sunshine if you liquefy it.

wont the goats eat the wheat once it becomes stemmy?

msjay, Even if the goats don't eat it-I wonder could you just harvest the wheat and use it for the chickens? You would not have to buy it---Bonus!! I would "think" I don't "know for sure" but don/t goats eat mostly anything?

Did you buy SEED wheat?Was it treated? I paid less for mine 2 seasons ago.It is only available here in either the spring or fall,I don't remember.I planted it in the chicken yard before I put the chickens in and they demolished it in a week.It was probably 4 or 5 inches tall.Use it up or feed it as mine is not germinating real well this year.Only about 50%.My chickens still think it is wonderful.I have a neighbor who won't eat the farm eggs his son raises but likes those pale ones(his description).Posy Pet

Hi Posy Pet No I ordered organic wheat grass not treated-not the kind that the farmers use to plant-25 pounds already gone I sprout it in the house in either a jar or bowl, I plant it in black slotted trays that I got from a plant farm-I set it in the sun & mist it twice a day-wish I could have afford to have my eggs checked before and after to see what the increase in Omaga 3 was-when you planted it for your chickens and they ate it did it keep growing or did they tear it out in a frenzy. lol---yuk on his discription could not eat one of those eggs!

They just gobbled it up!P osy Pet

Nelda,your hens are so pretty and healthy looking.Sorry for the short answer.I am babysitting for my 9 month old grandson and he needed me!My chickens ate every bit of the wheat grass in a week.I'm sure they tore it out because it sure didn't grow back.I agree,the eggs are darker and lovely with greens.Posy Pet