![Growing food for Chickens](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5382/394811/5e01574441722/Growing-food-for-Chickens.jpg)
I love my chickens to be as free range as possible. Helping themselves to wind-falls in the orchard, scratching around wherever we let them (or can restrict them to), the hens are happy and they reward us with plenty of eggs.
But with the constant threat of visits from Mr Fox they often have to be restricted from full blown free-range, particularly in the short days of winter. The way in which a large grassy area can then be turned into a barren waste-land can be quite frightening. This also increases the need for supplying them with extra feed – at the time when their output all but dries up!
In ‘days of old’, it was commonplace to feed kitchen scraps to chickens, and in fact was publicly encouraged as an economical way to convert kitchen by-products into eggs and meat (and manure!). Raw vegetables would often be minced first before being used, whilst others, such as potato peelings would be cooked or steamed first in order to make them more palatable. Even the water from this cooking would be given to the flock (often mixed in with the feed to create a ‘mash’) as it contained valuable vitamins and minerals. It was clearly understood that this waste should not contain meat products or have been in contact with the same.
Current legislation is very clear that the feeding of kitchen scraps to livestock is regulated, with strict guidance being provided on what can and cannot be fed to animals that sit within our food chain. In a nutshell, kitchen scraps are now a no-no unless the ‘food preparation area’ is registered or vegan.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January - February 2020 من Practical Poultry.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January - February 2020 من Practical Poultry.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![Growing food for Chickens](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e01574441722/crp_Growing-food-for-Chickens.jpg)
Growing food for Chickens
Mary Larham explores some crops to grow on your holding…
![Poultry in the garden – the truth!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e0158e1401b1/crp_Poultry-in-the-garden-the-truth.jpg)
Poultry in the garden – the truth!
Jo-Jane Buxton shares her experiences
![The British Waterfowl Association](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e0155512bd9c/crp_The-British-Waterfowl-Association.jpg)
The British Waterfowl Association
Which came first, the goose or the egg?
![WHY FIT A FAN IN AN INCUBATOR?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e0148f0c891a/crp_WHY-FIT-A-FAN-IN-AN-INCUBATOR.jpg)
WHY FIT A FAN IN AN INCUBATOR?
Brinsea Products, the Incubation Specialists explain the difference between still air and forced draught
![Incubating turkey eggs](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e01580cbbfdf/crp_Incubating-turkey-eggs.jpg)
Incubating turkey eggs
Janice Houghton-Wallace looks at broody turkeys and artificial incubation
![Chicken nesting box herbs](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e01504a95f8f/crp_Chicken-nesting-box-herbs.jpg)
Chicken nesting box herbs
Diana Clauss owns The Blue Feather Farm, in St Cloud, Florida, home to chickens, ducks, goats, and Anatolian Shepherd dogs.
![Incubate in January?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e014ba416276/crp_Incubate-in-January.jpg)
Incubate in January?
Jessica Wombwell says plan the breeding
![Andy's DIARY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e0152bac2065/crp_Andys-DIARY.jpg)
Andy's DIARY
Andy emphases the importance of keeping out damp and wet but allowing ventilation even in cold weather
![Feeding for Breeding](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e014cd93762b/crp_Feeding-for-Breeding.jpg)
Feeding for Breeding
It may be winter, but as Joanna Palmer, nutritionist for Smallholder Range explains, now’s the time to get your flock in tiptop shape and plan ahead for a successful breeding season next spring.
![A chick named Cuckoo raised by a duck!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5382/394811/5e01597d2fc2c/crp_A-chick-named-Cuckoo-raised-by-a-duck.jpg)
A chick named Cuckoo raised by a duck!
Chris Hammacott and her husband live on a small croft in the Outer Hebrides, they keep a ‘no kill’ flock or rare and rescue sheep which they use to spin and weave rugs. They also share the 8 acres with hens, ducks, cats and 9 rescue pugs.