Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[Arielle]

Quote: I love that this is one more source of good protein for the birds and very economical to sustain. THough the moth larve are a nucance.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
Quote:

Red clover is a nutritious forage, rich in protein (15-27% DM), minerals and soluble carbohydrates. Crude protein decreases with maturity, from 22% to 16% DM between the vegetative stage and the end of bloom for a French red clover, while NDF increases from 40% to 51% (INRA, 2007). Later cuts may contain more protein than the first and second ones (INRA, 2007).

I think it would be a good idea to remove the leaf litter but if you are trying to plant soil that doesn't have much existing grass because it's forest floor, you might have to really add some lime to it to tone down the acidity of the soils before planting clovers. In that case, burning them would be a great idea and then follow that with some lime right before a good rain storm in the very early spring. Though I don't know how you would burn damp leaves effectively.
I think I have become a rabbit . . . I pulled the small leaves off the brocalli that wasn't producing; recently was thinking about the forage value of bean leaves/vines and wondered what could possilby eat sunflower stalks?


None of these questions would have entered my mind 2 years ago! These chickens have lead me down an interesting path to say the least.


The legumes in general have a great deal to offer as a forage, not just high proteins but also the high digestability. While looking at the seeds currently available thru different vendors I have been totally amazed at the wide variety; enough variety that most every area can find 1-2 legumes that will grow.

I have heard that white clovers have estrogenic effects but have not researched that to verify it. When purchasing hay for the horses any white clover has been in such small quantity that I didn't think it would be a problem. Not sure how it would effect the chickens, but I sure like how your garden plots look with the bility to get between plots by walking on paths made of white clover. Seems like it can really do double duty.

As for burning the leaves, the top layer will dry out enough to burn off; but not burn down into the duff which is wet. Allows for a controlled burn. In some areas in the past, the sheep have eaten off the leaves over the winter, and then seed was applied in the spring. Unfortunately too many trees that were left rained down more leaves and smothered the grass. Live and learn.

I'm betting a company like HOme Depot will have the best prices on lime.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:

The red clover will not be up in my main grazing area around the garden and I'm only going to place it in small amounts in the other plot. Maybe in just small patches here and there. Since they have a good mix of native grasses to utilize as well.

We are going to use it more in one of the game plots up on the hill, which is far from where the chickens feed. The deer and wild turkey will get some benefit from it, along with the usual game plot seed mixes they sell around here. We haven't planted the game plots for some time now and we've noticed a general decline in our deer and turkey population, though that could be due to the high coyote predation we'd still like to try and attract them to our land.

 

[Arielle]

The northern deer plot mix is on my possible list of seeds. But it too requires tilling and liming. We have a fair amount of hunting here, but it seems to be declining. Most folks are against hunting Bambi. sigh. One check station was required to moved to the other side of the lot because of the complaints by families useing the tot lot next door, sigh. THese are the same people that complain about the flocks of geese that poo everywhere (something I just dont see as a problem) and then get all up in arms ( figuratively) when the state brings in hunters to shoot those that don't migrate away . . . . It is all about balance.

My first efforts will be to go for the clovers and legumes-- highest return for my efforts.

It is snowing here--again!! SUre hope we will have a window to burn before last day of burning.

 

[Beekissed]

The northern deer plot mix is on my possible list of seeds. But it too requires tilling and liming. We have a fair amount of hunting here, but it seems to be declining. Most folks are against hunting Bambi. sigh. One check station was required to moved to the other side of the lot because of the complaints by families useing the tot lot next door, sigh. THese are the same people that complain about the flocks of geese that poo everywhere (something I just dont see as a problem) and then get all up in arms ( figuratively) when the state brings in hunters to shoot those that don't migrate away . . . . It is all about balance.

My first efforts will be to go for the clovers and legumes-- highest return for my efforts.

It is snowing here--again!! SUre hope we will have a window to burn before last day of burning.

It's a lovely snow, isn't it? Like snow globe snow! Big, fat flakes falling fast. We've gotten about 2 in. since 7 this morning. I'm wondering if you could get a possible good yield with the seed mix by frost seeding like one does for the clover. I'm going to try it on our proposed game plot side as I don't want to disturb the soil culture there too much...will probably just rake it good the next good thaw we have, then when it frost again in early spring I'll slide up there and seed it.

 

[Arielle]

Frost seeding works best when over seeding IMO. THe leave cover I have keeps the seed on top and never reaches the soil.

THe prediction is 6-12 inches on top of the existing 12 inches. THen rain later in the week-- not a good combo for my drive way. Snow is compacted to ice then water on top. I'm so done with this winter.

LOoking forward to spring!!

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...our driveway is rather long(4/10 of a mile), up steep hills and down steep hills..but the last one to the actual hard road is the dilly. Had to get a tow truck the other night to get my sister out with her 4WD SUV. This freezing, thawing, snowing, thawing, freezing, etc. sure makes for a slick driveway.

My 79 yr old mother headed out in her truck this morning, per usual...she just learned to drive 3 yrs ago, but I'm pretty proud of her snow driving skills and don't worry much.

 

[Arielle]

I bet your mom is a hoot!! SHe is gutsy-- I'm debating wheather or not to move the car to the bottom of the drive to the last flat spot. MIght be too late . . .

 

[Beekissed]

I bet your mom is a hoot!! SHe is gutsy-- I'm debating wheather or not to move the car to the bottom of the drive to the last flat spot. MIght be too late . . .

She is! The first year she learned to drive she drove clear across the state and over several big mountains to bring me a load of firewood...in this kind of weather. She's like me pretty much...no fear, just caution.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!!