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Post by susan on Dec 12, 2013 22:23:28 GMT -5
Everything is getting pretty dead around here for the winter so I've been wondering if I could grow something green for the hens. I've got a cute little black plastic bowl shape with a clear plastic lid that would make a little green house. So I'm wondering, what to plant. I've got some leaf lettuce seeds, not sure how good the germination is, but wondering if anything else would be to their liking.
Susan
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Post by Valerie on Dec 14, 2013 10:46:36 GMT -5
I plant annual rye grass for mine. Going out to spread some seeds in just a minute, actually.  Just have to keep them out of it until it's a few inches tall. We found last year that if we plant a big enough area of it, they don't destroy it all in one sitting, and it actually lasts until spring. Not sure if this would work in your area, though. I also pick up cabbages for them at the store when they are cheap. They'll make a cabbage last about a day and a half. I just toss it out there whole and they start pecking it to death. |
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Post by BigM on Dec 16, 2013 6:47:12 GMT -5
Good ideas Val!
I have been thinking about ways to feed our birds "from the kitchen" instead of buying feed. I'd like to find the time to do some research on it after CHRISTmas.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Dec 17, 2013 20:31:25 GMT -5
If you have room to grow extra, plant some millet for your birds.
A pan of water under the porch light will catch lots of bugs. You can dump them in the pen, but some of my free range hens will check it out and eat the bugs each morning.
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Post by Valerie on Dec 17, 2013 21:34:11 GMT -5
Kim, I was thinking about planting some millet for them. How long does it take for it to get big enough where they don't destroy it if you let them wander in it? Would it be something they'd have to be kept out of until it's completely done and dry?
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Post by susan on Dec 23, 2013 14:43:45 GMT -5
I told Mike I'd like to run a fence down the middle of their fenced area this spring and seed one half while they are in the other. Then when it's grown, switch them and plant the other side. It still won't help for winter when everything is dead and muddy, but they'd have more in the summer to munch on. The other day we had a squash that was headed for the compost, but not totally bad yet. Mike cut it in half and put them in the chicken pen. There is nothing left now but the shells. Those girls had a blast with them.
Susan
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Dec 24, 2013 19:59:29 GMT -5
Val, you would want to let the millet dry enough to cut then make shocks from it. Toss a shock into them and let them scratch thru it for the seeds and then the straw makes bedding for the coop. If you just turn them into it, they will waste most of the seeds.
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Post by joanfromzonesix on Dec 24, 2013 20:30:25 GMT -5
Val, you would want to let the millet dry enough to cut then make shocks from it. or, if you have a good lawnmower with an efficient bagger, a quick swipe along the edges of your planting should give you enough for awhile - |
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Post by Valerie on Dec 28, 2013 11:04:29 GMT -5
OK, I get the idea. So this would need to be a dedicated area until the grain was completely done. We have a good mower, but not with a bagger, so the hand-harvesting thing would be the way to go. The rye grass I planted a couple weeks ago is about 3" high now. I'll let it get thicker before I turn the horde loose on it, though. It's still thin and tender and would last them about a week -- maybe. I raked them a huge leaf pile in their pasture where they are now and they spend their time repositioning the leaves now. Working hard out there, they are! It's not a pile any more, which is fine. What I meant is that I raked a ton of leaves and put them in their pasture for them to play in. Once the grass on the other side is big enough, I'll pile the leaves back up and plant some rye on this side. Speaking of which, I better get out there and check their water... |
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Post by Valerie on Dec 28, 2013 11:06:05 GMT -5
I told Mike I'd like to run a fence down the middle of their fenced area this spring and seed one half while they are in the other. Then when it's grown, switch them and plant the other side. It still won't help for winter when everything is dead and muddy, but they'd have more in the summer to munch on. The other day we had a squash that was headed for the compost, but not totally bad yet. Mike cut it in half and put them in the chicken pen. There is nothing left now but the shells. Those girls had a blast with them. Susan Susan, we added a door to the other end of the coop so we can decide which side to let them out on. It is nice having two separate areas for them. It gives one part a chance to rest and recover while they devour the other side. |
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Dec 29, 2013 15:30:57 GMT -5
I'm not sure how expensive rye grass seed it, but horse oats are not very expensive and work well for winter grazing too.
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Post by Valerie on Dec 31, 2013 11:29:53 GMT -5
Kim, do the horse oats sprout? I haven't seen bagged oats, but then again, I never go looking at horse feed. I know some of the chicken scratch mixes have oats in them. I'd rather they had oats than all that corn. I think I'll check on them next time I'm at the feed store, and maybe get them oats instead of scratch. Dave loves to give them scratch for a snack and I'm always trying to keep him from giving them too much.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Jan 1, 2014 15:14:00 GMT -5
Yes, the whole oats will sprout. Avoid the steamed or rolled oats.
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Post by BigM on Jan 2, 2014 6:44:13 GMT -5
I like to put down "plot spike" from the hunting stuff. It has a mix of oats and different clovers and grasses. They like it, but I ran into an issue with the heat here.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 2, 2014 22:58:27 GMT -5
I wondered what those "plot mixes" were they were selling at the feed store! I guess it's like planting a stand of goodies to attract deer?
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Just have to keep them out of it until it's a few inches tall. We found last year that if we plant a big enough area of it, they don't destroy it all in one sitting, and it actually lasts until spring. Not sure if this would work in your area, though. 
