Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[Arielle]

THe grass seed scattered last week isn't doing much. Only a few "chives" poking up. Had the kids screen the material from the compost and scatter it over the exposed seeds in hopes of holding moisture for better germination. Big rain storm due on Saturday, so we are hustling to get the hill planted. Very grateful the boys were helping out.

 

[Lacy Blues]

http://www.hummert.com/

IMO it's actually better to call them.
They ship internationally.

I will. I just wanted to be able to see everything they have available. Thank you so much!

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Quote: I could not find Ladino clover or the other seeds online; the only grass seed was turf and lawn type seed.

Tried a number of key words-- no luck.

 

[Sjisty]

Grass? What's that??? We free range our chickens over about an acre. They have destroyed every blade of grass, making the back yard look like a wasteland full of dust and craters.

When we first had chickens, this was the back yard.


The same area now -

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I could not find Ladino clover or the other seeds online; the only grass seed was turf and lawn type seed.

Tried a number of key words-- no luck.

The online catalog is different from the one I'm holding in my hand. That's why I suggested calling.
I just tried the catalog number for ladino and it didn't come up but when I called them they had it.
My catalog lists 3 wild game plot mixes but also has the following individual wild game ingredients:
Bob Oats, Buck Oats, Buck Wheat, Chicory, Chufa, Berseem Clover, Crimson CPI Clover, Ladino Clover, Dutch White Clover, Brown Top Millet, Japanese Millet, White Proso Millet, Austrian Winter WGF Pea, Daikon Forage Radish, Dwarf Essex Rape, Elbon Rye Grain, Annual Ryegrass, Egyptian Wheat Sorghum, WGF Sorghum, Laredo Soybean, Peredovik Sunflower, Purple Top Turnip, Seven Top Turnip.
They all come in 5 and 50 pound bags.
The reason I listed them for you is when you call you want the whole name. I called asking about the Egyptian Sorghum but I only said Sorghum and she gave me the price for the WGF. Then I gave her the catalog number and she told me the reason she couldn't find it originally was because it was called Egyptian Wheat Sorghum.
Most of those are for deer and turkey but some are for upland game birds. In any case, most would be appropriate for chickens.
It lists the clovers, millets and sorghums as attractive to all grazing wildlife.

It's more of a wholesale company. They sell a lot of vegetable and flower seed as well as starts, bare root and potted plants in large quantities.
Each of the 60+ varieties of tomatoes are sold in packets of anywhere from 25 seeds to 5 million.

Grass? What's that??? We free range our chickens over about an acre. They have destroyed every blade of grass, making the back yard look like a wasteland full of dust and craters.

When we first had chickens, this was the back yard.


The same area now -

I have 6 flocks and a few pairs and trios that all forage in a smaller place than that but it's all divided into smaller areas so I can rotate the pasture into 2 or 3 plots for each flock. Except for winter, they always have greenery. This time of year, they can barely keep up with it.

 

[Arielle]

THanks CHicken Canoe-- I emailed for a catalog.

Sjisty-- yup mine will eat a blade of grass before going to the pellets.

ALL my beutiful flower beds are reduced to dirt. I'm reworking everything to accommodate this behavior. lol

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Now that we have the seed and it is 9 zillion degrees outside, they are putting the final touches on prepping the field. They have tilled it until it looks like a smooth sheet of chocolate buttercream frosting. Then they will roll it to compact it a bit. Then harrow it (sp?). Then seed it. I'm not sure when all those next steps will happen ... I'm hoping at least some of them will happen this afternoon.

 

[chickadoodles]

How much boss can the chickens have regularly in addition to their feed? I don't want to over due it. But we bought a 25 lb. bag to grow for fodder.

 

[Beekissed]

Now that we have the seed and it is 9 zillion degrees outside, they are putting the final touches on prepping the field. They have tilled it until it looks like a smooth sheet of chocolate buttercream frosting. Then they will roll it to compact it a bit. Then harrow it (sp?). Then seed it. I'm not sure when all those next steps will happen ... I'm hoping at least some of them will happen this afternoon.

Finally!!! Now your free range project can get off the ground, you will save on money, your land will benefit from the birds, they will benefit from the clean and healthy soils and the natural food.....it's a win/win/win...well..it's just win infinity because it's symbiotic, isn't it?

Are you gonna get a LGD or a burro for their free range time there? A burro is less maintenance, though it most likely will not deter hawks.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

e    Finally!!!  Now your free range project can get off the ground, you will save on money, your land will benefit from the birds, they will benefit from the clean and healthy soils and the natural food.....it's a win/win/win...well..it's just win infinity because it's symbiotic, isn't it? 

Are you gonna get a LGD or a burro for their free range time there?  A burro is less maintenance, though it most likely will not deter hawks. 

His whole chicken thing makes an awesome excuse to get a burrow, doesn't it???

There will be a lot of open space, and we have to a of hawks, so the wheels are spinning about what to do about it!