Chicken salad bar? What to grow?

[Noymira]

I got thinking about the chicken salad bar idea after someone posted a beautiful run in the coop design section with lots of raised boxes covered in chicken wire. I want to add a few small raised boxes to our run, but am wondering what people grow for their chickens.

I'm thinking one would be just plain grass, but what else should I plant? I'm thinking about three or four 3'X3' raised boxes (I have some small lumber pieces that size to use). What have your chickens loved?

 

[schellie69]

I am planting
Grass
Chicken prairie grass (ordered off line) it has flax seeds, clover, rye and a bunch of other stuff
Leaf lettuce.

These are my thoughts

 

[Eglyntine]

I got Mammoth Red Mangels to give them something to not only to nibble on topside but to dig for as well since mine love to dig.

A Pasture mix that contains Sudan grass, fieldpeas, ryegrass, and rapeseed.

And then several Salad mixes that contain several varieties of lettuce.

Then of course they will have the leftovers from the garden at the end of the year but the above is specifically going to be planted for the chickens, inside their run and in other parts of the yard so they have some free-range treats.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
I like the idea of the salad mixes, I'll look and see what our local stores have for seed. I'll have to see if I can find grass seed mixes is smaller quantities.

A lot of the poultry foraging seed mixes I'm finding online are sold by the pound, I know I really don't need that much though.

 

[Eglyntine]

Quote:
I like the idea of the salad mixes, I'll look and see what our local stores have for seed. I'll have to see if I can find grass seed mixes is smaller quantities.

A lot of the poultry foraging seed mixes I'm finding online are sold by the pound, I know I really don't need that much though.

I only have a 1/3 acre parcel and I am only using 1/4 of that for the pasture mix so I know what you mean about not needing a lot of seed. The thing is, if you buy it from Johnny's or some place like that online you get a much better deal and you can store it in a dark, cool, spot for a quite a long time. With chickens they mow through that stuff pretty quickly so re-seeding is an endless task. Having that extra seed on hand is a lot nicer than having to wait for the "season" to kick in to buy a packet from your local nursery or hardware store, ykwim? I think with Johnny's you can order by the pound with no minimum but I still got a way better deal ordering the 5 lb bag instead of the 1 and you have it on hand when you need it. Although I just noticed where you live, you could drive to Johnny's and be back home quicker than I can re-order out here. God I miss Maine. heh Hope that helps.

 

[schellie69]

Here is the link to what I am thinking of planting
http://www.groworganic.com/omega-3-chicken-forage-blend-irrigated.html

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
That's good to know! I wasn't sure if the seed would keep for more than one season, if it can I have no problem getting a larger bag. Surprisingly it takes a long time to drive anywhere in Maine from here! It takes us 4 hours to get to Portland, it looks like it would take us 5-6 hours to get to one of Johnny's campuses. My husband does have family in Maine in Jefferson and my cousin lives in Orno, maybe next time one of them comes into town I could convince them to stop for me. I think my cousin is coming into town next month actually...hmmm.

 

[Noymira]

Quote:
That looks like a good mix, and a good price. Thanks!

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Quote:
Oh I like that a lot, Im gonna get my babies some

 

[schellie69]

Your welcome when I make my salad bar that is what I am planting looks like a really great mix for the chickens.