Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
SOUP FOR THE GROUP
When I was growing up, my family had a wood cookstove in our kitchen for heat and
some cooking. I was always looking for ways to supplement the diet of my chick-
ens and ducks, which consisted mainly of whole wheat and whatever I grew to feed
them. In the spring, summer, and fall they were let loose to forage. In winter, they
got wheat that I dropped into the big kettle of water at the back of the stove. I added
potato peelings, whole potatoes, chunks of mangel beets, carrots, and even rutabagas
to the pot.
This concoction slow-cooked until the fire in the woodstove went out in the wee
hours. By morning I had a sort of vegetable-wheat stew to take to the poultry. They
gobbled up the still-warm mix with zeal. I quickly learned to go light on the rutaba-
gas; they added a strong aftertaste to the eggs.
The size of my poultry flock has outgrown this method of feeding, but it worked
well then. Although it wasn't a balanced feed from a feed company, I got plenty of
eggs and the birds were all healthy. A winter root-veggie stew is worth trying if you
have a small flock of 10 to 20 birds and want to produce more of their food.
Spinach and Swiss Chard
Both Spinach and Swiss chard are excellent green feed sources for poultry. Swiss chard
is a gainful choice because you can cut and continue to harvest it throughout the entire
growing season. Both of these crops can be planted as early as the ground can be worked
and will extend the season well into fall. Spinach will require multiple plantings, where-
as chard usually lasts the entire season with multiple cuttings. Feeding these two greens
does not present an egg flavor problem; however, poultry are not quite as fond of them
as they are of lettuce and cabbage
Chicory and Endive
Also good season extenders, chicory and endive are hardy greens. They are easy to
grow and can be planted early on in the growing season. Both have a bit of a bite, but
most birds find them palatable. When given with other greens, poultry will usually pick
through, leaving these behind and consuming them only when other tastier greens are
depleted.
