Best grass to plant in a chicken run?

[Melky]

Rotating access keeps the garden growing while eating off it so they don’t destroy the garden area. I get it!

 

[aart]

Rotating access keeps the garden growing while eating off it so they don’t destroy the garden area. I get it!

Yes, I know the basic theory of rotation....but...
I was asking @jthornton what he meant by rotation with his grazing frames.
Why I quoted part of his post.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I think the green boxes are awesome. Have you tough about bushes?? Chickens can hide under them (when big enough) some are flowering. I put a wire skirt at the base of my bushes so they can’t dig them up. They still lay under them. I have yet to find a safe evergreen (still searching) in winter when everything dies back. Then I make hawk hideouts from cut fire wood and scrap lumber.

 

[jthornton]

What do you mean 'rotate daily'...do you only allow access every few days?

I have 9 spots with 8 sprout boxes so each morning I move the one that has been growing for 8 days to a blank spot then put a cup of wheat that has been soaking for 24h in the new spot. They only have full access to the one that has the sprout box removed from. In good growing times by day 6-7 the sprouts are coming through the top and they also much on them. The rain should stop this morning and I can get a photo of the setup.

JT

 

[Col1948]

Do they sell turf in the USA, in the UK we can buy it in squares or on a roll?
I was thinking if you could get some, it's ready grown grass, cordon off half the run till it gets established.

 

[jthornton]

Do they sell turf in the USA, in the UK we can buy it in squares or on a roll?
I was thinking if you could get some, it's ready grown grass, cordon off half the run till it gets established.

My 1200 square foot run had 2' tall grass everywhere when I put the pullets in... within a couple of weeks it looked like the moon. Pretty much a waste of time unless you have more acres than the chickens can eat and or dig up. And yes we can get turf in the USA.

JT

 

[aart]

I have 9 spots with 8 sprout boxes so each morning I move the one that has been growing for 8 days to a blank spot then put a cup of wheat that has been soaking for 24h in the new spot. They only have full access to the one that has the sprout box removed from. In good growing times by day 6-7 the sprouts are coming through the top and they also much on them. The rain should stop this morning and I can get a photo of the setup.

JT

Light bulb goes off!!....you're growing your sprouts inside!!.... then bringing them out(in trays?) to put in the boxes in the run?

Do they sell turf in the USA, in the UK we can buy it in squares or on a roll?
I was thinking if you could get some, it's ready grown grass, cordon off half the run till it gets established.

Turf, or sod, rolls are often treated with pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers...probably not what you'd want you birds eating, and they'd tear it up before it got rooted.

 

[jthornton]

Light bulb goes off!!....you're growing your sprouts inside!!.... then bringing them out(in trays?) to put in the boxes in the run?

No, I only did that last winter.

I put a cup of seeds in a container of water to soak overnight. In the morning I move the frame from day 8 to a blank spot (rotate them) and put the soaked seeds down on the ground. I water them daily if needed. So I have 8 frames with seeds sprouting that range in age from 0 days to 8 days old. I'll post some photos of the setup when the sun comes up a bit more.

JT

 

[Folly's place]

J, that sounds like a lot of work!
I agree that mixed plantings are best, and shrubs, protected at first. The shrubs and the tree right next to my coop have 2" to 5" rocks around their bases, to protect the roots. Pasture mixes, and herbs, would be your best bet out there, but is a run, it's going to be difficult for the plants.
Native non-toxic (no cactus) shrubs would be nice.
Mary

 

[aart]

No, I only did that last winter.

I put a cup of seeds in a container of water to soak overnight. In the morning I move the frame from day 8 to a blank spot (rotate them) and put the soaked seeds down on the ground. I water them daily if needed. So I have 8 frames with seeds sprouting that range in age from 0 days to 8 days old. I'll post some photos of the setup when the sun comes up a bit more.

JT

I got it now.....your planting in the frames is rotated. <thumbsup>