calling any one from missouri

[potagergirl]

Thank you all for the warm and kind words.

Talking to another chicken owner last night I am pretty sure we figured out what happened. You see Mr. Blue was not a part of the original flock I had integrated him in last summer. My chickens are free range and Blue from the beginning liked to stay up around the house and my garden while all the other chickens went in the other direction. Every time I went outside I would talk to him take out some millet or sunflower seed and feed him a small hand. Even when it got really cold and I wasn't letting them out of the run I would go in fill the feed and give fresh water. Then I would take the small container I held back for Mr. Blue and a couple of the girls that liked to eat out of my hand. What it comes down to is the man I spoke with believes that Blue was stressed. He was used to me feeding him all the time. Yes he ate with the flock when in the run, yes he roosted with them, yes he got along with the chickens, but no he never lost sight of me until I left and it stressed him. I think this is what happened and the guy I spoke with has raised chickens over 10 years so I'm thinking he's probably right.

The funny/good news is: I have a broody hen. It seems she was hiding eggs and just yesterday decided to set them. She was out running around before lunch but after lunch I noticed her missing. She was in the hen house. When I went down at two to fill feeders and water again I thought she was laying an egg and left her alone. I went down before five she was still there all puffed out. One of the roosters got on top of her and pecked her head a couple times so I finally moved her and yep 9 eggs under the little sneak lol. She stayed on them all night and won't budge today. So anyway tonight hubby and I are going to sneak her out and put nest and all in the little chicken house he bought me for Christmas. It's the perfect size for 2 broody hens and safe for chicks. I only have 1 broody hen right now and I hope it stays that way at least for a while. I don't want to loose my fresh eggs (is that not selfish?) hehe.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I like a mix. There is nothing stronger than Bermuda grass, but north of the gulf coast states the type of Bermuda is important. Mix with all kinds of clovers (they are high in protein) and inoculate the seed so it can "fix" nitrogen into the soil (legume). Dutch and Hop clovers are the ones I see in my pasture, Arrow Leaf and Crimson grow taller and might not be best for a lawn. Some weeds are great food for chickens so I will never spray poison in an effort to have a golf course lawn.

Nothing better than watching chicken TV and grass grow

How do I inoculate the seeds? And will it be alright for the birds to eat them? I totally expect them to eat all the seeds they can find and that I will be putting seeds down all summer.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Chickens AND lawn? Bwahahahhahahahaaaaaaaa!

LOL That does sound funny but I wasn't wanting it for it's looks, I was wanting it to look nice while they eat it. I also have some Sebastopol geese and they would look splendid on a nicely manicured lawn but I wasn't planning on that either. LOL

 

[ocap]

How do I inoculate the seeds? And will it be alright for the birds to eat them? I totally expect them to eat all the seeds they can find and that I will be putting seeds down all summer.

the time that I inoculated clover seed the "stuff" was sold at the seed dealer. I don't know about "safe to eat". I can try and find information on the internet if you want, just let me know. Might try first at the seed dealer to see if it is poison.

 

[microchick]

The funny/good news is: I have a broody hen. It seems she was hiding eggs and just yesterday decided to set them. She was out running around before lunch but after lunch I noticed her missing. She was in the hen house. When I went down at two to fill feeders and water again I thought she was laying an egg and left her alone. I went down before five she was still there all puffed out. One of the roosters got on top of her and pecked her head a couple times so I finally moved her and yep 9 eggs under the little sneak lol. She stayed on them all night and won't budge today. So anyway tonight hubby and I are going to sneak her out and put nest and all in the little chicken house he bought me for Christmas. It's the perfect size for 2 broody hens and safe for chicks. I only have 1 broody hen right now and I hope it stays that way at least for a while. I don't want to loose my fresh eggs (is that not selfish?) hehe.

GOOD NEWS INDEED! I'm glad something positive happened for you after everything that happened over the past couple of days.

 

[potagergirl]

I didn't know that about Bermuda grass. I wonder if I should mix it with my Kentucky blue and fescue stuff? Would it have a chance to grow before the chickens eat it up?

 

[EdenCamp]

Usually any seed coated with stuff is NOT going to be good for the birds to eat. The only way to get it started without being eaten out the gate is to keep the birds off it until it's had a chance to get a good start. Maybe set up a temporary extended run for them til it does? Wild bird netting over top to keep them in.

 

[potagergirl]

that's probably why I still have the seed in bags rather then putting it out. I still think I would like a cover crop of oats or something maybe clover. That way what does grow they can eat on.

 

[karenerwin]

Anybody near St. Louis (city or county) or Jefferson County ( I'm in Cedar Hill) that has fertile Marans eggs? I am wanting to hatch out some chocolate eggs and (hopefully) get some chocolate egg layers.

 

[microchick]

I know chickens scratch will scratch and dig through straw but if once you seed, put down about 3-4 inches of wheat straw over it and if you can keep the chickens off it for a couple of weeks, the straw will protect the seed from birds and will sprout beautifully. The straw will also hold moisture next tot he soil and protect the sprouts once they emerge. You can just leave the straw down then and it will compost for you or you can rake it up once your grass gets enough growth on it that you are thinking of mowing. I've always preferred to leave the straw down.

No matter what you plant I would keep the chickens off it as long as you can. That new growth is mighty tasty to them.