Backyard grass

[Hemlock Spurs]

Sorry for the noob thread.

Will have a tractor with four chickens in it; in the backyard this year. My question is - do i cut the grass in the backyard or let it grow long?

I'll be moving the tractor around each day.

Thanks

 

[Kay56]

Hi...I have been keeping tabs on a small farm area close to me that have a small tractor and they move it each day.....about every two weeks they do mow as i don't think the chickens cut their grass..just scratch it up. Noticed you are in to bees....well my hubby said you do chickens and i will do bees. These are both new ventures for both of us. How is bee keeping going if you do not mind me asking? Good luck with both.

 

[Hemlock Spurs]

I see you're in Fincastle. You had the same Winter we had then, easy. Do you have bees now? If you do they are already brooding up for Spring. Consider Spring management techniques like reversing the boxes or Splits. I'll be reversing the boxes on my full hives this weekend.

Are you in the Roanoke Bee club?

 

[Kay56]

Hi...My hubby just purchased 3 hives from a company and is getting them all together, painted, and ready to put out. He is a member of the Botetourt bee club...just joined in January. I think he is going to purchase some already thriving bees from someone.....forgot what that is called. This is as new for him as chickens are for me. We are hoping the weather will cooperate for us to finish our coop and run and get the hives situated soon. Thanks for the bee information...I will pass it on. Is there a bee site like this one is for chickens? So much information... it is almost an overload on the brain!

 

[Hemlock Spurs]

Hi...My hubby just purchased 3 hives from a company and is getting them all together, painted, and ready to put out. He is a member of the Botetourt bee club...just joined in January. I think he is going to purchase some already thriving bees from someone.....forgot what that is called.

Sounds like you are getting an Over Wintered Nuc or a Spring Split. Either way you'll be good. Local bees ARE the way to go. You are starting off the best way.

Is there a bee site like this one is for chickens? So much information... it is almost an overload on the brain!

Several, though i recommend this one the most. (Beemaster)
The 'General Board' gets the most traffic. (General Beekeeping)
The forum has been around for a little while so the info base is fairly large. A topic search should get you what you want to know. But join anyway and share your experiences.

A site you should take Most seriously is this one. (Bush farms). Michael Bush is one of the most knowledgeable people in North America. He has written several books plus will talk to you like you are his neighbor. I have talked to him, everyone has talked to him. He posts regularly on the forum too. Hope to see you there.

I don't know about chickens but beekeeping has a high attrition rate for keepers. First year beeks doubt themselves a lot. With bees losses are 'normal'. So don't be to hard on yourself. Enjoy the bees the first year then you can enjoy honey the second year and on.

 

[claudicles]

I mow my grass despite the tractors but I am on 2.5 acres and have three average sized tractors. I move them daily and mostly within a fairly small area but the chickens would still have problems keeping the grass short. It looks rotten where the tractors have been for 3 or 4 days then it looks fine. We have also had tons of rain lately (more than any year since 150 years ago) so the grass is growing like crazy. I've also noticed the effect of the chicken poo means I have seen where the tractors have been a few weeks ago as the grass grows longer there. The chickens actually mean I need to mow more!

 

[Hemlock Spurs]

Wow, maybe i should move the tractor around my front yard to help out the lawn. Ha.

I wondered about cutting the grass because i figured there are more bugs in long grass than short grass. I also don't know if chickens can scratch at grass once it gets too long. I let the back go to seed last year and it gets about a foot & a half long; bent over of course. I thought it would give the birds more to eat.

 

[LunaticCafe]

I don't have chickens (yet), but my neighbor who does says her chickens don't like long grass. Seems they are afraid of what might be lurking in it. She keeps keeps the grass mowed since her chooks will avoid any long patches. Would like to hear if others have the same experience.

 

[JulieNKC]

I don't have chickens (yet), but my neighbor who does says her chickens don't like long grass. Seems they are afraid of what might be lurking in it. She keeps keeps the grass mowed since her chooks will avoid any long patches. Would like to hear if others have the same experience.

Mine will try to nest in long grass, and my broodies like to take their chicks in it. The rest of the flock prefers shorter grass, and will stay out of the tall grass.

 

[claudicles]

I also have a wire grid under my tractors to stop predators digging in under it and it would flatten long grass and make it hard for the chickens to get at. They do have a really good dig away aroound the grass looking for bugs. I don't know if different grasses recover from that differently. Chicken were bred from jungle fowl so you wouldn't usually think long grass would be a problem.