notjustair
Well-known Member
You would think I've been farming long enough to know the rather odd things one should know, but this one took me by surprise.
So, one of my favorite things this time of year are those big bags of ruby red grapefruit. I eat a couple a day. Apparently one should not throw that many peels in the chicken coop. You want to talk about INSTANT stop to egg production - that will do it. It also causes them to lose LOTS of their short underfeathers. I went out there and got literally one egg from a coop that gives four dozen a day and the ground looked like it had snowed. I couldn't figure it out. I got to thinking and the only thing that had changed was the scrap bowl had all of those peels. They usually go to the hogs, but I sold out so the chickens get it all. I googled it about five days ago and read on one of those backyard chicken blogs that you shouldn't give them citrus. I always have, but just not in that quantity I guess.
Well, I guess it worked cause I got 10 eggs out tonight, up from just one yesterday. Bizarre.
So, one of my favorite things this time of year are those big bags of ruby red grapefruit. I eat a couple a day. Apparently one should not throw that many peels in the chicken coop. You want to talk about INSTANT stop to egg production - that will do it. It also causes them to lose LOTS of their short underfeathers. I went out there and got literally one egg from a coop that gives four dozen a day and the ground looked like it had snowed. I couldn't figure it out. I got to thinking and the only thing that had changed was the scrap bowl had all of those peels. They usually go to the hogs, but I sold out so the chickens get it all. I googled it about five days ago and read on one of those backyard chicken blogs that you shouldn't give them citrus. I always have, but just not in that quantity I guess.
Well, I guess it worked cause I got 10 eggs out tonight, up from just one yesterday. Bizarre.