Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[Beekissed]

I agree! Or go with the vertical garden idea someone used to grow greens on their apartment patio, using pallets. One would have to have some good wire on it so that the birds didn't pull the plants out by the roots when they grazed. It would be better still to plant the greens right into the embedded wire so that their roots are entwined and entangled with the wire.

 

[JesNflock]

I agree! Or go with the vertical garden idea someone used to grow greens on their apartment patio, using pallets. One would have to have some good wire on it so that the birds didn't pull the plants out by the roots when they grazed. It would be better still to plant the greens right into the embedded wire so that their roots are entwined and entangled with the wire.

I LOVE this idea! I am finding SO many cool things to do with pallets! I'm definitely going to save this one!

 

[Aphrael]

I LOVE this idea! I am finding SO many cool things to do with pallets! I'm definitely going to save this one!

Pallets are wondrous things. And lucky me has a constant source for them. The grain elevator that lets me take spilled wheat for free (I just collected 6 5gal buckets of it today) also told me I'm welcome to take as many pallets as I need and they get massive stacks of them built up before the truck hauls them off so I have plenty to choose from. My small coop is built from pallets and salvaged wood and the big barn/coop I'm building now will be from the same. I love those planters made from them. I've been planning to make some eventually.

 

[Kassaundra]

Pallets are wondrous things. And lucky me has a constant source for them. The grain elevator that lets me take spilled wheat for free (I just collected 6 5gal buckets of it today) also told me I'm welcome to take as many pallets as I need and they get massive stacks of them built up before the truck hauls them off so I have plenty to choose from. My small coop is built from pallets and salvaged wood and the big barn/coop I'm building now will be from the same. I love those planters made from them. I've been planning to make some eventually.

Free grain AND free pallets I am soooo jealous!!!!!!!!!

 

[JesNflock]

Free grain AND free pallets I am soooo jealous!!!!!!!!!

I know right!?!?! I wish I had a little free grain! lol (I can get the pallets so far no problem)

 

[LindaB220]

Hey, total newbie here. Bee and Kassaundra, I feel I know you well I have read your threads for the past couple of months. My first day at BYC I found fermented feeds for meat birds. Ha. Right down my alley because I love kombucha. I learned so much especially how I want my hoop house Bee. Perfect for my needs. I don't have the eww factor on processing so it worked right in with the idea of going further and caponizing. It always comes down to financing doesn't it. I have been saving and will be ordering from Mr. Tao soon.
But the reason I brought it up now is I have ordered from Mr. Coe and can attest that comfrey grows like wildfire. I'm outside of Shreveport in zone 8b so not much winter. And its still growing. Don't plant it where the chickens can get it. You'll waste it. Plant it in a row a couple of feet apart and add manure to it. It will grow so fast that you will be able to harvest it (cutting 2 inches above ground) at least 8 to 10 times a year. I'm talking pounds of the stuff. Chicks don't like it so much fresh but cut it and let wilt overnight to get rid of prickles and they will engulf it. I plan to use it for about 25% of my protein . All theoretical so far as my first babies will not come until late January. So excited to get started on my endeavor. And great to finally meet you.

 

[Aphrael]

The people at the elevator here are super nice. I felt sooooo lucky today. I went to check if there was any spillage since the last bucket I got was almost gone and they had just finished filling a trailer and there was a big mound of perfectly good wheat piled on the ground. Needless to say, my daughter and I came home and grabbed every bucket available and a pair of shovels. We filled up 6 five-gallon buckets (all I had) in just minutes. They weigh probably around 35ish pounds each, so I should have plenty to sprout for awhile and be able to spare some for planting in the chicken yard.

 

[Kassaundra]

Hey, total newbie here. Bee and Kassaundra, I feel I know you well I have read your threads for the past couple of months. My first day at BYC I found fermented feeds for meat birds. Ha. Right down my alley because I love kombucha. I learned so much especially how I want my hoop house Bee. Perfect for my needs. I don't have the eww factor on processing so it worked right in with the idea of going further and caponizing. It always comes down to financing doesn't it. I have been saving and will be ordering from Mr. Tao soon.
But the reason I brought it up now is I have ordered from Mr. Coe and can attest that comfrey grows like wildfire. I'm outside of Shreveport in zone 8b so not much winter. And its still growing. Don't plant it where the chickens can get it. You'll waste it. Plant it in a row a couple of feet apart and add manure to it. It will grow so fast that you will be able to harvest it (cutting 2 inches above ground) at least 8 to 10 times a year. I'm talking pounds of the stuff. Chicks don't like it so much fresh but cut it and let wilt overnight to get rid of prickles and they will engulf it. I plan to use it for about 25% of my protein . All theoretical so far as my first babies will not come until late January. So excited to get started on my endeavor. And great to finally meet you.

Glad some of my posts have been of help. Mr. Coe's comfrey is awesome!

 

[Aphrael]

Hey, total newbie here. Bee and Kassaundra, I feel I know you well I have read your threads for the past couple of months. My first day at BYC I found fermented feeds for meat birds. Ha. Right down my alley because I love kombucha. I learned so much especially how I want my hoop house Bee. Perfect for my needs. I don't have the eww factor on processing so it worked right in with the idea of going further and caponizing. It always comes down to financing doesn't it. I have been saving and will be ordering from Mr. Tao soon.
But the reason I brought it up now is I have ordered from Mr. Coe and can attest that comfrey grows like wildfire. I'm outside of Shreveport in zone 8b so not much winter. And its still growing. Don't plant it where the chickens can get it. You'll waste it. Plant it in a row a couple of feet apart and add manure to it. It will grow so fast that you will be able to harvest it (cutting 2 inches above ground) at least 8 to 10 times a year. I'm talking pounds of the stuff. Chicks don't like it so much fresh but cut it and let wilt overnight to get rid of prickles and they will engulf it. I plan to use it for about 25% of my protein . All theoretical so far as my first babies will not come until late January. So excited to get started on my endeavor. And great to finally meet you.

Hi there and

.

 

[Beekissed]

Welcome, Linda!

Good to meet you! Ok, y'all...you've got me interested. How expensive is the comfrey seed per pound? Does it work only on tilled land or can you overseed existing lawn?