Alternatives for rotating fields?

[307151]

I don't have the extra land to rotate my birds and goats to a new field once a year, but I read someone uses lime once a year?

 

[Mini Meat]

I have considered using circles of welded wire, like you would use to put compost in, to keep the chickens off of small patches so the patch could rest for a while. Sort of a fence out approach. You could rotate these resting areas around your chicken yard.

 

[WYNot]

Can't help with the goats but for the chickens you can make some grazing frames to protect the grass and ensure they have greens...

If you want some greens in the run for your chickens, check out this thread...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/862820/grass-in-run#post_13018634


My contribution to the thread mentioned above...
Quote:
Might get a bit pricey.

Do some searches and you'll find some great threads on sprouting fodder for them.

Or you can make some rectangular frames out of 2x4's. Staple some hardware cloth across the top of these frames. Place a few of these frames in the run. They will allow the grass to grow and give bugs a place to hide. The chickens won't be able to kill off the grass completely as they can't get to the roots. They can eat the grass as it grows out through the hardware cloth. They can also hunt for bugs that wander too far from the protection of the frames.

Quick Bing search turned up this great article...
http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2012/02/07/grazing-frames-backyard-chickens/

 

[307151]

I don't really want to confine them, plus they wouldn't stay in there, they fly. I only have an acre.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

You know what you could do? I just remembered something from a book I read.

Over a piece of grass (as big or small as you want) you build a sort of box, but there's not bottom and the top is covered in wire. The wire has to be tight and small-holed so that chickens can walk on it. The grass grows through the holes. That way they can eat the tops of the grass as it grows, but they can't tear it up. The downside is they can't scratch, dust-bathe or get grit there...

It would help to know exactly what the problem is.

Are they ripping up the grass, eating it to the ground so it can't grow? Or is it that they are changing the soil with their manure and making it too acidic for grass to grow? Lime will make the soil more alkaline, but I can tell you it doesn't work anywhere near as well as rotating- personal experience.

Do you think you might just have too many chickens/goats for one acre? Do you know which species is doing more "damage?"

Are you interested more in keeping the pasture green or in cutting food costs? The latter may be easier, since there are more options there I think- then again maybe not, I don't know what you're feeding.

 

[307151]

You know what you could do? I just remembered something from a book I read.

Over a piece of grass (as big or small as you want) you build a sort of box, but there's not bottom and the top is covered in wire. The wire has to be tight and small-holed so that chickens can walk on it. The grass grows through the holes. That way they can eat the tops of the grass as it grows, but they can't tear it up. The downside is they can't scratch, dust-bathe or get grit there...

It would help to know exactly what the problem is.

Are they ripping up the grass, eating it to the ground so it can't grow? Or is it that they are changing the soil with their manure and making it too acidic for grass to grow? Lime will make the soil more alkaline, but I can tell you it doesn't work anywhere near as well as rotating- personal experience.

Do you think you might just have too many chickens/goats for one acre? Do you know which species is doing more "damage?"

Are you interested more in keeping the pasture green or in cutting food costs? The latter may be easier, since there are more options there I think- then again maybe not, I don't know what you're feeding.

Actually, we have grass and everything, no damadge, I just heard you need to rotate fields to keep the level of parasites down.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Oh, I didn't know parasites were the concern. Since you mentioned lime, I assumed you had another problem. Lime is just used to make the soil more alkaline. It doesn't have anything to do with parasites.

If the birds are on the same ground all the time, parasites will eventually end up there. I know fresh pumpkin seeds are a natural de-wormer for poultry, not sure about goats. Just try and feed them a good, varied diet so they build up strength to deal with any issues that may arise. Don't use a wormer unless you need to, as that only strengthens the worms in the long run (they become resistant to it).

 

[aart]

Actually, we have grass and everything, no damadge, I just heard you need to rotate fields to keep the level of parasites down.

Pasture rotation is an excellent way to reduce parasite load, for chickens but especially for goats.
Not sure if lime would help....go to homesteadingtoday.com/goats as ask there, great resource.