Arizona Chickens

[Twinklin]

Be careful, if you are going to let your birds eat the seed, that it isn't treated with fungicides, etc. The seed at HD is coated. I got ours at A&P Nursery specifically because it isn't coated with anything.

Guess they're getting locked up until the grass takes then. I looked on the bag and it said nothing about fungicide or being treated in any way but looking on their site it says the stuff we got is Penkoted. How can they not put a warning on the bag about that? That makes me angry.

 

[pipemum]

Guess they're getting locked up until the grass takes then. I looked on the bag and it said nothing about fungicide or being treated in any way but looking on their site it says the stuff we got is Penkoted. How can they not put a warning on the bag about that? That makes me angry.

Be careful, if you are going to let your birds eat the seed, that it isn't treated with fungicides, etc. The seed at HD is coated. I got ours at A&P Nursery specifically because it isn't coated with anything.

I wouldn't have thought of that--thanks for the warning. I would have bought the smallest, least expensive bag at Lowe's, I'm sure it would have been Scott's or something.

Hmm, well, there's something folks are planting in their gardens around here. Teff. A grain from N. Africa. To my non-grass expert eye, looks similar to rye. I have such a small area to overseed, I wonder if I could use it like rye. I do worry about starting a new invasive though. My backyard adjoins a natural wash, so it's something I have to think about. I'm off to learn about teff....

eh, learned some about teff. Probably won't work like a winter rye, wants a little more warmth. I'll have to look for uncoated rye seed.

 

[Twinklin]

I wouldn't have thought of that--thanks for the warning. I would have bought the smallest, least expensive bag at Lowe's, I'm sure it would have been Scott's or something.

Hmm, well, there's something folks are planting in their gardens around here. Teff. A grain from N. Africa. To my non-grass expert eye, looks similar to rye. I have such a small area to overseed, I wonder if I could use it like rye. I do worry about starting a new invasive though. My backyard adjoins a natural wash, so it's something I have to think about. I'm off to learn about teff....

Thanks for the heads up Becky. Hopefully my girls didn't eat enough of it to make them sick. They're unhappily locked in the run now. I specifically read the bag to make sure it would be ok. I never use any pesticides or fertilizers in our yard. We got http://www.penningtonseed.com/Products/Pennington/Annual-Ryegrass at HD. Steer clear of it though because the bag says nothing about the Penkote or being treated but the website says...

• Best for a temporary, seasonal lawn
• Fast seed germination and turf establishment
• For use in full sun to lightly shaded areas
• Ideal for overseeding Bermuda, Zoysia and other warm-season grasses
• Penkoted® for seedling protection

 

[Twinklin]

Oh I did just run across this thread from last year in doing a little research to see how likely it was that my girls got sick. It's in reference to a penkoted seed fertilizer mix. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-given-fresh-seed-thats-mixed-with-fertilizer

The person from the company wrote the original poster with...

"The fertilizer found in that product has already dissolved into the soil and is not at all harmful to your chicken in anyway now. The Penkote that is on the outside of the seed is safe for your chickens, as it will not harm them. This will also not affect the eggs that the chickens lay. The mulch that is in this seed is a paper product and the green coloring is Penkote. The only hazardous material used in Penkote is Apron (Mefenoxam), which is used in very small portions. The amount of Apron put on the seed is ½ ounce per 100 pounds of seed. Apron is 33.3% Mefenoxam. The amount of Mefenoxam on the seed would be one part in 9072 parts of seed.

Please advise if we can be of further assistance.

Courtney Harrison
Consumer Relations Assistant Manager
Greenfield, MO Division
Pennington Seed Inc.
1-800-285-7333 ext. 187"

So hopefully our girls will be ok. I don't see any "green color" on my seed. I keep seeing that Penkote makes the seed green. Ours looks like natural seed. I'll just play it safe and wait a few days before letting the girls free range again.

 

[Demosthine]

I just over seeded this morning and covered with a truckload of composting manure for extra measure. I still need another truckload to finish the yard though. My clan is NOT happy about being locked on the side of the house.

I did find out, though, that rabbits will eat the seeds like a fat man at a buffet. I found the doe in the bucket of seed and then in the spreader!

I'm really looking forward to seeing this pasture blend grow in, though. I'm ordering comfry in March to plant under my oleanders and starting my Moringa seedlings this week, too. I just read the second book from the Urban Rabbit Project and it has great ideas that can be used for chickens, too.

So much to learn and do, but so little property!

 

[pipemum]

I tried a lone comfry plant this spring. Didn't do so well. The soil was too poor (had signs of iron deficiency) and then the heat did it in. It was shaded from the sun, but the plant doesn't like heat. I'll try more comfrey again in better soil, perhaps the heat won't bother the plants so much if they aren't struggling in other ways.

What is the pasture mix you're trying, Demosthine? The chicken forage blend?

 

[Demosthine]

Yes, it's the Omega 3 blend from GrowOrganic. Theoretically, I think most of what is in there should survive all year and come back each time, just like my Bermuda does. Even if I have to replant every year, it's what I do with my winter grass anyway.

 

[Timskins]

That seed goes a long way. I just planted a third area, this one much larger than the first 2. I did the first 2 in some grow boxes I built. Stuff grows fast, showed new growth in 2 days.

 

[Demosthine]

Glad to hear that, Tim! I maxed out the measurement setting on my spreader and covered the entire yard twice. I still have about half of my seed left, so I hope it comes in great! I was debating on going over it another two times or not, so I guess I'll wait and see.

About six months ago, I mucked out a huge truckload from the stalls of a lady in Cave Creek or thereabouts. It's been composting on the side of the house since. Periodically, I've added some to the garden beds, but I had to move it all in order to fit the totalled truck in the side yard. It all went in to the raised garden beds for my wife. She turned it all over this afternoon while I finished spreading the new manure across the yard. It's a beautifully composted soil now, looking and smelling great! All it cost was some gas and manual labor. I really need to find out where to put my next batch for composting and get another truckload going for spring!

​

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

FOR SALE OR TRADE 2 COCKERIALS 1 BLACK COOPER MARANS 1 LEMON CUCKOO MARANS 8 WEEKS OLD
Would like trade open to negotiation to BYC members asking $10.00 each $15.00 for both to BYC home. They are not hatchery stock. I have 1 pullet looking for trade. Breeds most desired are Delaware, Rhode Island Red/white, any olive/blue/green Egger, Hamburg, Minorca, and Fayoumi

(pullet is hatchery)

In 2 weeks will post on Craigs List