Fall is a great time of the year for animals. Everyone’s garden is nearing the end and it’s also time for yard clean up before the winter sets in. I don’t let anything go to waste as I do garden clean up and prepare for the inevitable cold and snow. My animals help me with clean up, and feeding all the excess garden produce and yard trimmings helps to cut some food costs. As I pull plants out of the garden, those that are edible go to the animals. I pick the last of the grapes for the chickens, and the goats get a few delicious meals of gourmet grape leaves. The goats and rabbits love the green bean plants and the chickens enjoy the tomatoes. Had your fill of cucumbers? Goats, chickens ducks, cows, horses and rabbits all enjoy a juicy cucumber. Bruised apples from the tree make great treats and the chickens love it when they find a worm in their apple! You don’t really need to worry too much about your animals eating apple seeds. While it is true that apple seeds contain cyanide, the seed has to be crushed or chewed to release the poison. Chickens swallow the seeds whole, so no problem there and your larger animals would need to consume quite a few apples to be affected by the cyanide. Your animals will feel lucky if your pumpkin patch was a success. Pumpkins are a pretty hardy crop and will store well until the bitter cold of winter. I often hit up the local pumpkin patch after Halloween and take home a truck load of pumpkins that I dole out over the next month to all of the animals for their eating pleasure.
