Chard stems from the allotment

A couple of days ago Jackie and I went to the allotments to collect some chard for our girls. It had been left over winter and gone to seed and now the owner of the plot wanted it removed to replant the space. Most people at the allotments know that Jackie and I will take unwanted greens for our girls.

We cut it into sections as it was really tall. I then cut it into smaller sections and put them in a bag in the fridge and put all the big leaves in another bag in the fridge. I wanted it to stay fresh so that I could give it to the girls a bit at a time.

The girls enjoy some chard stems

The chard stems keep the girls occupied

By the end of the day the stems are stripped and I throw them away. Butterscotch is missing from the photos because she is still broody.

Butterscotch stays in the nest box

I found that the big chard leaves were too tough for the girls to manage when they were loose on the patio so I stuffed them into the square bird feeders. This kept them occupied all day and by the end of the day just some stems were left.

Peaches and Barley at the right hand feeder

Peaches and Barley at the left hand feeder

Emerald joins them

Toffee at the feeder

Emerald joins Toffee

Speckles joins Peaches

Every time I went up to the girls I could hear the feeders bumping around. Half way through the day I turned the feeders round. They managed to get every bit of green and just left a few stems for me to throw away at the end of the day.

I think we can safely say that are enjoying the chard and as Jackie says it is free. It should keep them going for a few more days yet.