Uploaded February 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
If your chickens are eating a healthy diet, full of protein, vitamins and minerals, their eggs will be healthy food for you. Some studies have shown that when chickens are allowed to roam in a free range environment where there is grass and bugs and other yummy things for chickens to eat, their eggs contain higher levels of vitamins A, D and E, and omega-3. And if your chickens are eating their greens, then that helps make the yolks of their eggs a lovely golden colour.
If you don’t have a big lawn area, then it’s a good idea to give your chooks some extra greens to munch on. All green leafy things are good for them and they love them. The outer leaves of cabbages, old gone-to-seed silver beet, even a pile of weeds.
If you live in New Zealand, you can give them a real kiwi treat – puha! Puha is the maori name for a leafy plant used in traditional maori food. There are several species, most of which are not native to New Zealand. In some places they are called sow thistles. They have big, arrow-shaped leaves, and the stems contain a milky juice. Puha is very high in vitamins A and C, folate, iron and calcium. And my chooks adore puha. Even the baby chicks love it, long before they acquire a taste for other greens.
So if you see puha growing in your backyard, or along a weedy piece of public land, as long as it hasn’t been sprayed with weedkiller, gather some free greens for your chooks. They will love it, and all those rich nutrients will help their eggs look great, with rich golden yolks, and full of healthy vitamins and minerals for you to eat.
For more fascinating facts, hints and tips about caring for your chickens, and the sheer pleasure of chickens, subscribe to my channel: Chickens in my garden - New Zealand
youtube.com/channel/UCVjpcGev8F6SUzE2pMz5Ztg/featured
For more about maori food and cooking puha, see Weka Digital Media's channel youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vc-a95lZa1yDnJy7RvpdtkBxZGNest1
Catch up with me on Facebook facebook.com/chickensinmygarden
Follow me on Google+ plus.google.com/u/0/b/105948206899891481362/105948206899891481362/posts/p/pub
If your chickens are eating a healthy diet, full of protein, vitamins and minerals, their eggs will be healthy food for you. Some studies have shown that when chickens are allowed to roam in a free range environment where there is grass and bugs and other yummy things for chickens to eat, their eggs contain higher levels of vitamins A, D and E, and omega-3. And if your chickens are eating their greens, then that helps make the yolks of their eggs a lovely golden colour.
If you don’t have a big lawn area, then it’s a good idea to give your chooks some extra greens to munch on. All green leafy things are good for them and they love them. The outer leaves of cabbages, old gone-to-seed silver beet, even a pile of weeds.
If you live in New Zealand, you can give them a real kiwi treat – puha! Puha is the maori name for a leafy plant used in traditional maori food. There are several species, most of which are not native to New Zealand. In some places they are called sow thistles. They have big, arrow-shaped leaves, and the stems contain a milky juice. Puha is very high in vitamins A and C, folate, iron and calcium. And my chooks adore puha. Even the baby chicks love it, long before they acquire a taste for other greens.
So if you see puha growing in your backyard, or along a weedy piece of public land, as long as it hasn’t been sprayed with weedkiller, gather some free greens for your chooks. They will love it, and all those rich nutrients will help their eggs look great, with rich golden yolks, and full of healthy vitamins and minerals for you to eat.
For more fascinating facts, hints and tips about caring for your chickens, and the sheer pleasure of chickens, subscribe to my channel: Chickens in my garden - New Zealand
youtube.com/channel/UCVjpcGev8F6SUzE2pMz5Ztg/featured
For more about maori food and cooking puha, see Weka Digital Media's channel youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-vc-a95lZa1yDnJy7RvpdtkBxZGNest1
Catch up with me on Facebook facebook.com/chickensinmygarden
Follow me on Google+ plus.google.com/u/0/b/105948206899891481362/105948206899891481362/posts/p/pub
