Biodiverse Polyculture (USDA 8a Zone Pasture) - sounds better than "My Acres of Weeds"

[RubelliteRose]

And we have subsequently determined that what was previously identified as a "Mulberry Bush" is in fact Amercian Beautyberry. I'll correct that when/if this becomes a guide.

Maybe include both names. I think in some areas, the name French Mulberry is more common than Beautyberry.
This is one of the few plants that I've had to shop for using only the scientific name. In my area, if I ask for mulberry, I am shown the tree. If I ask for beautyberry, I'm shown Japanese beautyberry instead of the native American beautyberry.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Really interesting thread. Look forward to seeing how your continued management helps the soil, pasture, and livestock.

 

[NatJ]

I just found this thread and read through it-- quite interesting!

You mention all the berries being mostly water, and therefore not very useful as chicken food. I partly disagree with that. If chickens eat a bunch of berries they will drink less from their water dish. That means they might eat enough berries to make a difference in their diet, without overdosing on water.

You also mention concerns if they eat too many berries and end up with dietary imbalances. When I've had chickens and mulberry trees, they would happily eat mulberries, but they still spent much of each day foraging for other foods, even when large numbers of mulberries were lying on the ground under the trees. That told me the chickens were self-limiting rather than eating every available mulberry. So I decided they were smart enough, and I didn't have to worry

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I just found this thread and read through it-- quite interesting!

You mention all the berries being mostly water, and therefore not very useful as chicken food. I partly disagree with that. If they eat a bunch of berries they will drink less from their water dish. That means they might eat enough berries to make a difference in their diet, without overdosing on water.

You also mention concerns if they eat too many berries and end up with dietary imbalances. When I've had chickens and mulberry trees, they would happily eat mulberries, but they still spent much of each day foraging for other foods, even when large numbers of mulberries were lying on the ground under the trees. That told me the chickens were self-limiting rather than eating every available mulberry. So I decided they were smart enough, and I didn't have to worry

I need to get back to this thread actually, and my own experiences are confirming your thoughts - there simply aren't enough french mulberry / american beauty berry fruits to make much of a difference. My water is all fed from large reserves, so I can't see if there's been a change in consumption - but seeing the efforts the birds go to for the berries, I think I'd need many, many more bushes (or a much smaller flock) for it to be an issue.

And yes, they self-limit on everything else, no reason to believe they won't self-limit (at least a little) on these. Though there is clearly some favoritism going on. Its the same birds, again anad again, hopping at the bushes trying to pluck berries.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

...and I never did figure out where that App hides photos on my phone.

 

[Marie2020]

Crimson Clover - Its a Good Thing
(just wish it would grow better)

View attachment 2760190

(Stock photo - mine isn't in bloom yet) That's actually why I planted it, as part of my clover trifecta. They bloom in order White, Yellow, Crimson. Unfortunately, while the white clover is a perennial here in my zone, and the yellow clover is hanging on as a perennial (just barely, in protected locations), the crimson clover is pretty firmly an annual.

Its also very popular with surrounding farms, so I have some free seeding by native birds, etc. And can always cut it on the roadside if I need more seeds. Unfortunately, on my property, I'll get one crimson clover stalk here, one there - no thick stands of the stuff. Soil pH needs to be adjuted, I suspect, followed by a heavy overseading.

Still, its a popular cover crop and nitrogen fixing legume - the birds eat it up when its present, and its short enough I anticipate the goats will ignore it.

I really like the look of this plant it's stunningly beautiful

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I really like the look of this plant it's stunningly beautiful

It should do well in your zone, and its very good forage for the chickens.

 

[Marie2020]

Very interesting. I'm enjoying this thread.

So am I. I'm really happy finding out all this valuable information

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I really, really need to get back to this, but there have been other priorities.

I never did figure out where that App stores photos, either...

 

[Iluveggers]