Iceberg lettuce for your birds

[destinduck]

I have heard not to feed iceberg lettuce to birds and animals for that matter and have never done so just because there is a wide variety of greens to choose from. I was wondering if anyone knew why this is or if its even true. Could it be bad for them or just no nutrition in this type lettuce ? Thoughts ? Internet digging anyone ?

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

I looked back and found in an old 2008 post as well as a few articles on the net that people do not recommend feeding iceburg lettuce to your chickens because it is less than 1% protein. Basically, I would conclude that a small treat of it would be okay as long as they don't fill up on it and you give them protein and vitamins in other feed.

 

[destinduck]

Thanks Lisa. What I was leaning toward was the its mainly water and not much nutrition thing. Maybe I need to to be eating more of this to lose weight and feel full too!

 

[bucky52]

my girls love grass.being that we are into winter there is none.they look for their lettuce each day.i read on byc that some feed there chickens alfalfa pellets.well i'am stuck with a 50 pound bag.i thought i had found the soultion for greens for my girls until warm weather and the grass starts growing.i soaked it in warm water until it was soft.boy did i get a stink eye.

 

[chickenzoo]

I was always told with parrots it acted as a laxative, ....... Not sure if it's true.

 

[destinduck]

Wow. I just think its wild so much of it is grown yet doesnt seem to have much benefits for us let alone our bird friends. Oh well, till I get some good imput I guess I will stick with the "other" greens.

 

[THunter]

What about radish greens? Or turnips? If dandelion is good for them, I'd certainly think these would be.

 

[destinduck]

Yes they all are great. I think variety is best. And I throw them in the mix also here and there. I have mainly bare pens (no live plants) for too many reasons to list here where I live. So I toss in various greens daily to keep them nutritionally sound.

 

[chickiewhite]

A little won't hurt but spinach is better

 

[Duckadia]

Spinach stops the absorbsion of calcium in ducks.