California - Northern

[ronott1]

Quote: I did not say they do not eat grass!

 

[capayvalleychick]

Capayvalleychick(Hi Kim) has tried sprouts, pasture and grubs for the chickens and it winds up not working that well. It is a lot of work and chickens really do not eat that much grass.

as a supplement, you would be better of dedicating a large patch to growing chard or kale for them. You could cut out 10 to 20 percent of your feed bill, but it's really about the health of the chickens with Kale type greens.

It's a better ROI(return on investment) to just use good old time gardening for stuff like this.

I don't know about chickens not eating grass. My backyard free ranging flock has eaten every blade of grass in my backyard. I have to block off areas and reseed to get anything to grow. We throw the grass clippings from the front yard (no chemicals used) in the back for them and they go crazy. I am thinking about growing a forage blend using hydroponics. I am just waiting for some consistent warmer weather to start the project. I do grow trays of forage blend and wheat grass for them plus I sprout BOSS and they love that. I have recently been following the BYC thread about feeding meat birds fermented mash. I have my mash bucket going and my birds get fermented feed & grains every morning. So far so good with it but I've only been doing it for 2-3 weeks. Has anyone else tried feeding their flock fermented mash?

Chickens will definitely eat grass. I think what Ron was saying was because I was sprouting grains for a while. It was a lot of additional work and time. I didn't see any positive results from it. Same with the raising mealworms. They were fine for a treat but there was no way to raise enough for a large flock. I have about 15 acres of grass pasture for my chickens, so growing something in addition wasn't worth it, or necessary. For people who don't have greens for their flock, it is worth it to grow or sprout something, anything green, for them to have some sort of forage. I know a couple people who have done the forage systems. One used the Farmtek system, the other made up her own. Neither has any grass or grazing areas for their animals, so the forage is their only source of greens.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Thank you Kim! I was not being too clear In the first post.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Chickens will definitely eat grass. I think what Ron was saying was because I was sprouting grains for a while. It was a lot of additional work and time. I didn't see any positive results from it. Same with the raising mealworms. They were fine for a treat but there was no way to raise enough for a large flock. I have about 15 acres of grass pasture for my chickens, so growing something in addition wasn't worth it, or necessary. For people who don't have greens for their flock, it is worth it to grow or sprout something, anything green, for them to have some sort of forage. I know a couple people who have done the forage systems. One used the Farmtek system, the other made up her own. Neither has any grass or grazing areas for their animals, so the forage is their only source of greens.

I have started growing mealworms for my birds. They will only be a "treat" occasionally. Were there any drawbacks that you found with raising them that you can share?

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I was out enjoying my Isbars yesterday. I thought I would share some pictures...

Beautiful! Love that roo too! So you got the splash by breeding Blue to Blue right? They are blue correct? I'm just planning my Blue Copper Marans. I'm going to add a Black Copper Marans rooster (because I can't find a Blue, unless Jeff hatches one, he owes my three chicks) and I'll get 50/50 blue and black but I'd really like to get a splash and then I'd need a blue roo.....or do I not understand this at all!!

 

[ChickNmamma]

Beautiful! Love that roo too! So you got the splash by breeding Blue to Blue right? They are blue correct? I'm just planning my Blue Copper Marans. I'm going to add a Black Copper Marans rooster (because I can't find a Blue, unless Jeff hatches one, he owes my three chicks) and I'll get 50/50 blue and black but I'd really like to get a splash and then I'd need a blue roo.....or do I not understand this at all!!

From my understanding of BBS breedings.... black x splash = all blue. Blue x Blue = 25% splash, 25% black & 50% blue. Black x blue = 50% blue and 50% black - no splash.

Do you want to breed blue - or splash? If you get splash, I would use a black so you will get all blue. Splash x blue = 50% splash, 50% blue?

 

[PetRock]

I did not say they do not eat grass. I said the hydroponic system in the post was not a good ROI--Grow greens(Grass is green isn't it?) The regular way. I give my chickens the grass clipping from the front yard and when I get a lawn back in my back yard I will give them those clippings and find a way for them to get out there every once in a while too.

Also, go to a store and get greens that are not pretty enough to sell when you can't grow your own.

The eggs are amazing when they eat things like that but I have never noticed a big drop in them eating the chicken feed.

Sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to start a "chickens do eat green grass" discussion. Your comment was that they don't eat that much grass not that they don't eat grass. Mine will eat anything green growing in the yard but do not like our left over greens from the grocery store. They look at me like I'm crazy when I throw them lettuce, kale, cabbage, etc. The younger birds will eventually eat some of it but the older girls prefer fresh greens growing in the garden. I'm trying to find a way to grow more greens for them in a limited amount of yard space. I have noticed that my birds do eat more chicken feed in the winter when the yard is barren and there are few insects around.

 

[Miss Molly]

I have a blue Rooster over slash and blue Hens... I only get blue and splash chicks. I do have a black hen but, I put her in my laying flock.

 

[zooweemama]

Quick question about the Stockton thing this weekend. Which day should we be there again? I can only go one day.

 

[chiqita]

LOL!!!  I just read your first post and rushed to the site to check it out!  You know me so well!  George is VERY interested in hydroponics so he may come up with some ideas on doing our own system.  I would like to combine hydroponics with vertical gardening.   I will be sure to let you know what we find out!

Be careful with verticle systems of you free range. Or have turkeys. Stuffing ate all our lettuce and did a number on the watercress too.she could get right in the trays and also loved rootballs. Bad turkeys! She would have knocked a vertical system right back over.

I don't know about chickens not eating grass.  My backyard free ranging flock has eaten every blade of grass in my backyard.  I have to block off areas and reseed to get anything to grow.  We throw the grass clippings from the front yard (no chemicals used) in the back for them and they go crazy.  I am thinking about growing a forage blend using hydroponics.  I am just waiting for some consistent warmer weather to start the project.  I do grow trays of forage blend and wheat grass for them plus I sprout BOSS and they love that.  I have recently been following the BYC thread about feeding meat birds fermented mash.  I have my mash bucket going and my birds get fermented feed & grains every morning.  So far so good with it but I've only been doing it for 2-3 weeks.  Has anyone else tried feeding their flock fermented mash?

We are going to start soon. Got the bucket and stuff but this week had some bad surprises then Stockton. We did just start sprouting wheat for the silkies and quail that don't free range. Mario is very excited about both. He went a little crazy on the wheat. It is like 6 inches thick instead of 5 or 6 wheats thick. But it is sprouting! Now. Just have to find somewhere to put 6 tubs.

Did I say before the acv at trader joes is no longer active? It has mother but it is pasturised! I have not figured out what the use is of that stuff now.