I agree that grass clippings can be fine based on the above scenarios. Make sure that the clippings come from a lawn on which no chemicals have been sprayed.
Can grass clippings be used for bedding?
- Thread starter jbowyer01
- Start date
I wouldn't bet my life on this but I believe I read somewhere on BYC that hay can get moldy and cause serious health problems. And straw is hollow and bugs can live in there when not tormenting the chickens! Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
Ellen
Ellen
Both my chickens and myself prefer it when I use grass clippings in the pens instead of straw. The chickens like to eat some of what I put in fresh right after cutting, and the smell of the stuff that is both damp and dried is SOOOO nice in the pens. The only part the girls don't like is that there are many less flies to catch in the pens when they have fresh grass clippings.
I rake up some fresh when possible and give it to them, but this summer it has been so hot and dry that most of the time it isn't really edible even right when it is cut. Then I just leave it until the next day to dry really well, rake up and haul it to the pens in a wagon that pulls behind the mower. They never eat the dry stuff, I just figured it was like free hay, just cut up a little smaller. They love digging through it and moving it all around. It doesn't seem to get moldy, I guess because it has been a pretty dry summer and they keep it turned up all the time.
I rake up some fresh when possible and give it to them, but this summer it has been so hot and dry that most of the time it isn't really edible even right when it is cut. Then I just leave it until the next day to dry really well, rake up and haul it to the pens in a wagon that pulls behind the mower. They never eat the dry stuff, I just figured it was like free hay, just cut up a little smaller. They love digging through it and moving it all around. It doesn't seem to get moldy, I guess because it has been a pretty dry summer and they keep it turned up all the time.
My birds love grass clippings for nesting material. They free range, so grass is not quite the novelty that it might be to chickens with a bare run. They don't bother to eat it and its nice and soft. Straw tends to stick to the eggs too much. I think the grass reminds them of a more natural nest outside. It smells wonderful also. Then when you change it out, it can go directly on the garden and its soooo good for the soil!
I use them also! I dry mine out on the lawn first. I dont let it pile up before I use it. Let it air dry in the sun for awile. Then spread it out where ever it needs to go.
- May 8, 2008
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mine eat them
Quote:
The best bedding I have used is pine shavings. I pay about 4.5 for a large bag, i forget 3 or 8 cu ft. at a local lumber yard for non-treated pine shavings, the local feed store gets about 6.25 for the same size. In my 6X8 foot coop 3 bags give the ladies about a 4" bedding. I then sprinkle in some DE to keep out parasites. At night I feed them some cracked corn before lights out and they scratch about and turn the bedding. Twice a year clean out the bedding and toss the old stuff in the humus pile or sprinkle it on the garden. Grass and hay tend to get moldy. The grass i do toss in is to entice them into the coop if the shake of the corn container doesnt do it... they eat it mostly depends on what kind of grass it is.
Farmer MacK
The best bedding I have used is pine shavings. I pay about 4.5 for a large bag, i forget 3 or 8 cu ft. at a local lumber yard for non-treated pine shavings, the local feed store gets about 6.25 for the same size. In my 6X8 foot coop 3 bags give the ladies about a 4" bedding. I then sprinkle in some DE to keep out parasites. At night I feed them some cracked corn before lights out and they scratch about and turn the bedding. Twice a year clean out the bedding and toss the old stuff in the humus pile or sprinkle it on the garden. Grass and hay tend to get moldy. The grass i do toss in is to entice them into the coop if the shake of the corn container doesnt do it... they eat it mostly depends on what kind of grass it is.
Farmer MacK
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After the photos of a "Cropectomy" there is no way I'll let my chickens eat or have grass clippings and only hay in the nest boxes. I was giving them hay to eat through the winter and glad I ran acrossed the pictures of the straw that had been impacted in a hens crop. Personally I can handle doing a lot of treatments etc, but holding down, cutting and cleaning out straw (dried grass) is not one of them. Make sure as you are new coming into having your own chicken children that you are aware of what Vet will take care of sick poultry in your area, as most of us have no one to count on except allowing nature to take its course (often times death).
Wander around BYC, look up past posts, search for words that may concern you.
Best of luck with your chickens and welcome to BYC!
Wander around BYC, look up past posts, search for words that may concern you.
Best of luck with your chickens and welcome to BYC!
I guess the key is if you want to try grass clippings watch your chickens. If they start to eat it take it away, if not then you have a free source of bedding.
Yes you can use dried grass and leaves as beading. But it should be dried out as this makes it less likely the chickens will eat to much of it. For a narrow blade of grass it would take about three to four days to dry out in the sun if it is in a thin layer. If you plan on using the beading for composting this is much better then wood chips.
They also prefer wide bladed grass vs thin bladed grass. So it is more desirable to use the thin bladed grass for bedding. Once the thin bladed grass is dried they pretty much ignore it.
The major problem with bringing grass to the chickens it that there usually is not that many insects in it. But at least they get a treat with the fresh grass.
If you aren't able to free range your chickens, cutting grass and giving it to the Chickens is good for several reasons. It increases nutritional value of the eggs, and the health of the chickens. But in a enclosed environment they may over eat grass so you only provide a limited amount of fresh grass not hugh piles of it.
After about three or four days the grass gets dried out and they are less likely to eat it.
When dealing with grasses you must be carefull if it has been fertilized or sprayed for insects. Do not use the grass if it has, as the chemical residue is harmfully to your chickens.
Tom
They also prefer wide bladed grass vs thin bladed grass. So it is more desirable to use the thin bladed grass for bedding. Once the thin bladed grass is dried they pretty much ignore it.
The major problem with bringing grass to the chickens it that there usually is not that many insects in it. But at least they get a treat with the fresh grass.
If you aren't able to free range your chickens, cutting grass and giving it to the Chickens is good for several reasons. It increases nutritional value of the eggs, and the health of the chickens. But in a enclosed environment they may over eat grass so you only provide a limited amount of fresh grass not hugh piles of it.
After about three or four days the grass gets dried out and they are less likely to eat it.
When dealing with grasses you must be carefull if it has been fertilized or sprayed for insects. Do not use the grass if it has, as the chemical residue is harmfully to your chickens.
Tom
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