Chicken Forage

[Dens Hens]

If you had a 50'x100' area, What would you plant for your free ranging chickens to forage in? Presently I have a 50x100 strip of clover/alfalfa mix they use. I would like to add more, possibly a grain. Any suggestions? Time to think about planting here in Michigan! Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[RJSorensen]

You could try sprouting some wheat and or barley, the birds like the tender shoots. What you have in there is a good choice by me, but I suppose whatever you can get your hands on that is the cheapest per unit of weight, would make great fodder for your birds.

Best to you and your chickens,

RJ

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I sprout lentils for my birds (and myself, they're delicious on salads). I mostly do it for my Silkies, since they don't get to free range, but I toss a handful to everyone in the winter when there isn't much for them for forage

 

[Den in Penn]

If you are asking about seeding their pasture area, a good spring grain is oats. Really any grain will do nearly as well. They will eat the green leafs on the plant and do a lot of trampling. You won't get much in the way of mature grain compared to a unpastured field crop.

 

[glib]

It is difficult to beat alfalfa, which is both semi-perennial and productive. I love the foliage and nutrition (high protein) that cattle fava put out, equalling alfalfa at six months in two months. It is high proteins, and grows well in cool weather, by June in Michigan it makes 3ft really thick stands. But the seed is expensive. For a grain I do not know. Millet is fastest to seed, but it is strictly a summer grain.