feeding question on Beet Leaves

[farmerb]

Hi everyone I have a question. I have a bunch of beet leaves I was wondering if they would be good for me to give to my chickens?

 

[Fuzzbuttfarm]

I had a bunch of organic beets from the market and split the greens between me and the chickens. I just chopped their portion and they ate it with gusto with their other veggie treats over a couple days. They're doing fine.

 

[NYREDS]

An almost universao rule is-If you can eat it they can eas it. The only exception I know of is very salty things can be harmful to chickens.

 

[elmo]

Feeding beets...means red poops. Don't think it's coccidiosis!

 

[mfsakc]

My girls love the beet tops, also the radish greens.

 

[sheeshshe]

One of my Bo's likes to get in my garden and pluck and toss the beet greens!!! does NOT attempt to eat them at all... just pluck and toss pluck and toss... he's not allowed in the garden anymore LOL!

My chicks are weird they wont eat radish leaves either! yet my neighbors eat them with gusto...

 

[JLMom]

OMG! Please don't feed them all to your chickens! Saute them in olive oil with a little very thinly sliced onion and some freshly squeezzed lemon juice. My mom and I tried to grow beets one year, but we kept cutting the greens off and eating them

(Only the baby greens are this delicious. If you have the big, full sized leaves, not as good)

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I agree, if they are fresh, I'm not sharing! Best greens there are!

I like the older ones as well, just cook them longer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Kale, chard, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower leaves, the chickens get some of them. Beet greens? I have 8 pints canned, along with 13 pints of beets. That does not count what we ate before "harvest". And ddawn is right. Just cook the older leaves a little longer.

JLMom, you might try boiling the greens first, brown a little onion and garlic in olive oil, then saute the beet greens. Salt and pepper to taste. Paprika and/or a pinch of red pepper adds an interesting taste.

 

[JLMom]

Thanks Ridgerunner, I'll try it!