Drought has dried up all my grass! What are you feeding?

[GardenerGal]

The farm co-op where I get my feed, has a big hay barn where they store the different types of hay and straw. Often the bales come loose and there is always loose hay lying on the barn floor. The co-op lets folks help themselves to the loose stuff, so whenever I am there to pick up poultry feed I bring a lawn-and-garden bag and fill it with grass hay. My geese and ducks love it and it supplements their poultry pellets. Grass hay is better than timothy because it is softer and has smaller leaves plus often is a mix of grass and clover. It's not as rich as alfalfa so I can let them eat all they want. Only thing is I have to use it quickly so it doesn't have a chance to get moldy. I refill a bag every couple of weeks.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Cottage Rose ~ We actually have three Jerseys. All three girls need to be bred, I'd love to get some semen from a Mini Jersey bull and start raising Mini Jerseys. They are ADORABLE! However, they still produce just as much milk, they are just as cute, eat less, and don't take up much space...like Bantams! LOL Plus you can have more of them!
~ Aspen

MINI JERSEYS?!?!?

Now WHY did you have to go and tell me that?!!

 

[aaajjss1]

update on the barley grass it is doing well, takes them a little longer to eat a flat of it than it does the wheat grass. I think it is ready faster as well! I hope I can find more seeds when these run out

 

[Goose and Fig]

I got barley seed last year from Ivy Garth. They shipped it to me- just about 5 pounds. Would probably be cheaper if you got it at a co-op though. I will ask today if mine has it. If its as cheap as wheat, I will split a plot and see what does better.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I got barley seed last year from Ivy Garth. They shipped it to me- just about 5 pounds. Would probably be cheaper if you got it at a co-op though. I will ask today if mine has it. If its as cheap as wheat, I will split a plot and see what does better.

I was thinking about feeding my ducks/geese some barley mixed with their reg all flock and wheat and whole oats but hadn't seen anyone post they fed barley to their geese till now, so Now I will have to get some.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Lydia she is talking about growing seed, not just feeding the seed in with their pellets.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Lydia she is talking about growing seed, not just feeding the seed in with their pellets.

I saw that C but is it okay to feed barley? I thought I would buy some out of the bulk bin at my grocery and see if they will eat it?

 

[Goose and Fig]

I'm sure they would eat it, but it would go further if you could grow some as well. Mmmm, I love barley. Can't wait til soup season.....

 

[aaajjss1]

Yes barley grass seed is a bit different than barely for soup lol I was able to purchase 50 lbs of it for 15$ when I went to Carson City to move my fiance down here. Fodder solutions was the name of the company that they were growing the grass under google it! good info about Barley Grass as feed, geese and chickens and ducks all love it!

 

[Goose and Fig]

Yes, you're right. We use the pearl barley for soup.
I tried to grow two-row barley to go with our hops for an English-style lager, but it never came up. I have been dying to try again though.