Chopped grass OK?

[RoseyBK]

I have my almost 3 week cornish cross in a separate part of my layers' coop at the moment. Will let them "free range" within a large pen soon, but don't have a grassy area for them. We back up onto open space with lots of pesticide-free grass that we are allowed to cut. Wondering if it would be a good idea to cut it and chop it into smaller pieces to put in their pen. Since chicks usually cut the grass themselves, not sure how small it needs to be and if it would be a problem if it were too big.

 

[chickentrains]

yep! they would like it a lot.

 

[CSolis]

Another thing you could do to provide greenage is to get alfalfa pellets or cubes, I add boiling water and let it 'undo' the form they were pressed into, then give it as mash to all my kids. They go hog wild for it now and it's so nutritious too. I do mow with the bagger on and give the troops greenage when it's growing.

 

[iwltfum]

They will probably waste a good bit of it, but it wont hurt to have some fresh greens. Depending on how many birds you have, I would think about using a lawn mower with a bagger. Even a few birds will tear through a good sized pile of grass in a hurry.

 

[Jeanw]

My chickies love grass. in the colder months I grow ”salad mix” sprouts so they can have some fresh veg.

 

[RoseyBK]

Awesome and thank you. One lingering question is should I chop it up small? They would normally clip it themselves, so if it is cut too long would that be a problem for 3 week old Cornish X.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, it should be chopped up. Long grass clipping can tangle and wad up in the crop.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would be cautious about using grass from a lawn mower. The mower blades crush the grass and it will quickly spoil and mold.

 

[3KillerBs]

I would be cautious about using grass from a lawn mower. The mower blades crush the grass and it will quickly spoil and mold.

I've never had an issue with that, but that would be highly dependent on climate and weather.

 

[1muttsfan]

Maybe you only feed fresh clippings, but sometimes people think they can stockpile them and that should not be done