Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[centrarchid]

Bee, thank you so much for directing me to this thread.

I have been doing as much research and reading as I can on good ways to make me and my flock more self sufficient. Not only will it be cost saving once established, but I believe it will also be much healthier for my chooks as well as for all of us that eat their eggs and meat.

I have been looking into which native grasses are the best nutrition for them. However, the only source I found to buy seed for the grasses native to my area are frighteningly expensive. So I am thinking that I may try to gather some seeds myself and/or dig some up to try transplanting. For chicken "lawn" areas I'd like to encourage a mix of native grasses interspersed with alfalfa, clover and such. I don't know how the alfalfa and clover will do in my heat and drought heavy area without lots of extra watering, but I want to find out.

What you will probably find is that if your neighboring cattle, goat and sheep producers have it growing then you might be able too. Problem you must watch for is chickens will crop the plants closer than even sheep. Additionally, even though they do not damage plants by trampling, they cause damage by extensive scratching. Be thinking about methods to encourage birds to rotate their attention over time around the foraged areas. I do that in part by moving feeding stations. Taller plants like bushes will help greatly with that as well since they can provide loafing areas in close proximity to both feeding station and rested forage.

 

[Aphrael]

Alfalfa is grown around here for hay. But I'm not sure how much it is irrigated. I'm hoping to develop a nice mix that (once well established) will not require a great deal of supplemental watering.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Alfalfa is grown around here for hay.  But I'm not sure how much it is irrigated.  I'm hoping to develop a nice mix that (once well established) will not require a great deal of supplemental watering.

Irrigation is a big deal for me, too. As in I can't do it and we have two dormant seasons here ... our summers are dry. There are "dry land" seed mixes available ... But a lot of the stuff that's grown here presumes irrigation.

One thing I notice is that when a dry field is cut there is a low-growing crop of GREEN weeds under it. This might be a way to manage unirrigated poultry pasture. Let it grow tall until just before you rotate the birds to it, then cut it back to expose the tender green stuff under it.

 

[centrarchid]

Irrigation is a big deal for me, too. As in I can't do it and we have two dormant seasons here ... our summers are dry. There are "dry land" seed mixes available ... But a lot of the stuff that's grown here presumes irrigation.

One thing I notice is that when a dry field is cut there is a low-growing crop of GREEN weeds under it. This might be a way to manage unirrigated poultry pasture. Let it grow tall until just before you rotate the birds to it, then cut it back to expose the tender green stuff under it.

I frequently cut strips into a new area to be foraged. Birds can get through is easier and the fresh growth that often comes up shortly after cutting is particularly tender.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I frequently cut strips into a new area to be foraged.  Birds can get through is easier and the fresh growth that often comes up shortly after cutting is particularly tender.

That's a great alternative to having several different pastures ..

 

[Beekissed]

What you will probably find is that if your neighboring cattle, goat and sheep producers have it growing then you might be able too. Problem you must watch for is chickens will crop the plants closer than even sheep. Additionally, even though they do not damage plants by trampling, they cause damage by extensive scratching. Be thinking about methods to encourage birds to rotate their attention over time around the foraged areas. I do that in part by moving feeding stations. Taller plants like bushes will help greatly with that as well since they can provide loafing areas in close proximity to both feeding station and rested forage.

Which also brings up the point of stocking rates. If one is going to stock heavy on land, then rotational grazing would be the way to go...for most animals that graze normally. Chickens do not...they nip the grass, but they also scratch out the root systems at times while looking for insects. My solution for this is to not overstock the land/lawn. Only keep the amount of animals you can keep without destroying the pasture/grass and giving it no recovery time.

I've found also that much of that can be prevented if one develops "sacrifice" areas for chickens that you can develop into habitat if it is not already naturally in place...brush piles, compost bins, wood lots, sheltered areas where they can find proper dusting soils and insect heavy soils so they don't create additional ones near the foundations of homes and outbuildings or tear through landscaping and flower beds.

 

[centrarchid]

Which also brings up the point of stocking rates. If one is going to stock heavy on land, then rotational grazing would be the way to go...for most animals that graze normally. Chickens do not...they nip the grass, but they also scratch out the root systems at times while looking for insects. My solution for this is to not overstock the land/lawn. Only keep the amount of animals you can keep without destroying the pasture/grass and giving it no recovery time.

I've found also that much of that can be prevented if one develops "sacrifice" areas for chickens that you can develop into habitat if it is not already naturally in place...brush piles, compost bins, wood lots, sheltered areas where they can find proper dusting soils and insect heavy soils so they don't create additional ones near the foundations of homes and outbuildings or tear through landscaping and flower beds.

Fence rows can be magical places as well. I allow brambles to come up around them making for exceptional loafing areas. They can also be used to draw birds away from areas that either need to rest or have recently been reseeded.

 

[Aphrael]

Which also brings up the point of stocking rates. If one is going to stock heavy on land, then rotational grazing would be the way to go...for most animals that graze normally. Chickens do not...they nip the grass, but they also scratch out the root systems at times while looking for insects. My solution for this is to not overstock the land/lawn. Only keep the amount of animals you can keep without destroying the pasture/grass and giving it no recovery time.

I've found also that much of that can be prevented if one develops "sacrifice" areas for chickens that you can develop into habitat if it is not already naturally in place...brush piles, compost bins, wood lots, sheltered areas where they can find proper dusting soils and insect heavy soils so they don't create additional ones near the foundations of homes and outbuildings or tear through landscaping and flower beds.

I plan to increase the number of laying hens I have (we run out of eggs to often). But I will be keeping a close eye on the forages as I so as to not have so many in the area that the forage is damaged. Mine have access to the compost pile and LOVE scratching through it. I do not have a dedicated dust area yet but plan to make one in hopes of minimizing the number they make for themselves. Have my eye on a discarded tractor tire I might use to fill with sand and ash for this.

Fence rows can be magical places as well. I allow brambles to come up around them making for exceptional loafing areas. They can also be used to draw birds away from areas that either need to rest or have recently been reseeded.

I do not have anything planted along the fence rows yet, but intend this spring to put in various vining or cane type plants. Oh and roses! We currently have 1 large rose bush in the chicken yard and they love it. It and the ginormous pomegranite bush are their favorite places to hide and rest.

 

[centrarchid]

I have a 50 yard long row of bamboo coming up that will reach about 30' high and be about 12' wide. Forage value will be limited but it will be extremely good cover from north wind. It could also provide good cover for brooding hens with chicks.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Ages ago we planted a pine "walk" down below the house ... it is a double row of Pine trees planted close together, and then trimmed up a bit so a person can walk the path between them. This is a big-time favorite area for our chickens. The soil under those trees is rich and yummy, and the birds are nicely protected from weather and hawks.