Can cauli and cabbage leaves cause loose poo in chickens?

[kathyd]

Hi, just wondering really - although my birds have steadfastly refused even to blink at green veg provided in their run, they're quite happily now munching their way through my cabbages and cauliflowers in the polytunnel.. I don't really mind because I'm about to pull up the caulis anyway, but I'm wondering if this sudden overdose of brassicas could be contributing to the rather loose poos I've been finding around the place? I'm in the middle of worming them at the moment just in case, (although I'm not convinced by the dosage instructions on my Flubenvet 1% stuff compared with the 2.5% I used last time!), but I just wondered if it might be nothing more sinister than their diet? They certainly seem happy enough, active, noisy, laying fine, trying to sneak into the house with the dog blah blah blah...

Thx

[chris]

Loose poo can be caused by them being too hot - it's a way of them cooling down. However, mine have had the runs before when scoffed themselves stupid on "treats".

[VirginVegGrower]

Too many greens can cause this I believe. I was told on here last year "not too many greens".

[kathyd]

Hi Chris - well it's unlikely they're too hot at the moment! So maybe it's just their piggy behaviour in the tunnel.

Hi VVG - hmm.. wonder how we stop them eating greens if they're free ranging in the garden?? Or do you mean 'greens' as in dark green veg of the type we'd eat for dinner - like brassicas for example! If so, I suppose I'll have to start fleecing them for now while the birds are on the loose. I'll be locking them out shortly anyway as the new plantings get underway.

[VirginVegGrower]

I don't think there is much you can do unless you fence it off. I think it's nice that they ate allowed to free range wherever they fancy, although, what do I know An eggspert will be along at some point to guide

[lainey lou]

Yes, if they're getting gready with the greens, that's probably the culpret!

[kathyd]

Yes, if they're getting gready with the greens, that's probably the culpret!

Well I suppose it's better than having some nasty bug giving them upset tummies . Maybe I need to find out what will bung them up and point them at that instead for a couple of days! Lol .

[Hilary B]

Yeah, I'd blame the excess veg. Might be an idea to keep them confined until they've eaten some of their pellets, because if they can fill up on fresh veg, they might not eat enough of the balanced stuff to lay like they should AND stay healthy.

[RichmondHens]

Cauliflower is known for upsetting tummies. That said I still give it to mine but divided between my lot it usually amounts to about a mouthful each so doesn't affect them in those quantities.

[kathyd]

Hi Hilary, RH - I've been monitoring the pellet intake, and they actually seem to be eating a lot more now than they did when I first got them. It took me ages to discover they wouldn't eat them dry, they have to be soaked first and preferably then dried out and crumbled... lol, talk about fussy! They seem to binge at certain times of day (first thing in the morning, around lunchtime and again at bedtime), and nibble the rest of the day along with whatever they find free ranging. Some eat more than others, but I suppose that's to be expected? They don't usually come out of their run until mid-morning, and I try to get them back in for an hour or two at lunchtime, and then they're usually out for a couple of hours in the afternoon, so plenty of time for those yummy pellets - I'm just so glad I'm not a chicken . Why don't they flavour pellets with something tasty like they do with cat and dog food I wonder??

It hadn't occurred to me that veg might upset their tummies to be honest, but now I'm aware I can limit it. They refuse to eat it if I 'provide' it for them anyway, only if they find it growing in the garden themselves, and can steal it. Well, they do say that veg always tastes better when eaten fresh I suppose - they're obviously very discerning birds!