Farmer's feild is planted, free ranging question...

[Bocktobery 10]

Every year, we loan out our fields to be planted by a local farmer. It works for both of us- He gets some extra land and we get someone who will make sure our fields are taken care of and not become overgrown. And so today, while walking around I noticed that our farmer did in fact lay down the seeds for the field (soy beans) and the seed he planted is above ground- well, at least some of them. (that's how I noticed he had planted already) This made me think of how some seeds (ok, probably most) are coated with a chemical coating to help ensure its germination. and that got me wondering about my free-ranging flock, whom often likes to go into the fields to look for goodies to eat.....


IF my free-ranging hens eat the seeds, will it kill them? Should I lock them up and not let them out until the seeds start to germinate? Does anyone else have similar situation, and if so, how do you handle it, or is it just ok to let them roam?

I have not ever seen them eating the seeds in the field. Its my hope that if they are chemical coated and unhealthy that they will spit them back out and not eat them. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I should know by now what the proper thing to do is, but I really only thought about it just now.

Thanks in advance for any replies... I hope someone can help me with this question!

 

[centrarchid]

We planted soybeans nears walks (free-ranging flocks) of gamechickens every year. The birds were not overly keen about consuming soybeans whether as treated seed or spilled grain. I they do consume the soybean seed, the loss to the renter will be more that the gain you get.


FInding seed above ground indicated planter was not working properly and needs to be serviced. These days I would keep my stock away from ground treated with Roundup.

 

[aart]

I would ask the farmer you are leasing the field to what he is planting, if it is treated and what he will be spraying throughout the growing period....oh and that you noticed a lot of seed on top of ground...JMO

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm pretty sure the farmer does not spray. I've never seen him do it before. He is aware that I free range my flock and I think he himself has some chickens, so I don't think he'd do something that he thought might be harmful to them.. I guess that is why I didn't think about it until now, but still it had me worried and I wanted to make sure. . I should just ask him about the seeds, though I'm fairly sure that it is treated as most seeds used for field planting are coated. I just don't know how harmful a seed coated in chemicals might be to a chicken.

So far, I've only had to chase two hens out of the newly planted fields. I'm not sure though if they were eating the seed or just taking advantage of newly turned up dirt. I should note too that the seeds that I saw laying on top of the soil were in places where he had to make sharp turns.. He does have older equipment, but for the most part, most of the seeds are under soil. I'm just worried my hens would get smart and start scratching them all up.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Oh, and I should note that I don't have a huge flock, so damage, if any, is very minimal to the crop and harvest. For the most part they stay in our large back yard and only seem to wander in the fields from time to time.

The deer here though do a lot of damage and he knows about it. Also, he had asked us to shoot a few groundhogs last year that were doing a lot of damage. So, I do think he's say something if the chickens were doing a lot of harm.... At least I hope he would. Maybe I should give a call and ask just in case.