feeding large weeds, long grass??

[Dixiedoodle]

How large of weeds and length of grass do you feed you chickens? My chickens are 20weeks old and they do not free range--so we are throwing them bugs, seeds, weeds and grasses. Thank you dixie

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
If you have a bagger on your mower, just dump the clippings into the chicken run. They will pick thru it for what they want and whats left will compost down with their special additions-----it makes good garden fertilizer for next year. I add clippings all summer and next spring put it out to be tilled in the garden.

 

[Bridget399]

I pick some pretty large weeds and stick them through the fence so they are hung up on it (at chicken height). They just tear the leaves off the weeds and leave the stalk. They really love it! :cdThe next day I take the bare stalk and throw it in the burn pile.

 

[phalenbeck]

Mine have the amazing ability to reduce grasses/leaves/all kinds of yard and garden stuff from a big pile to nothing somehow. I dump yard carts of oak leaves in the fall/winter, and anything left from the garden in there yard. If they do not want it they will not eat it.

 

[figsonwheels]

Along these same lines, how much garden waste is too much? When will they stop eating their regular feed?

 

[Opa]

Earlier in the spring I threw some rather long grass clippings in with my hens. Later in the day I found one obviously distress hen. Her crop was huge and long blades of grass protruded from her beak. I wound up milking her crop and pulling out long blades of grass at the same time to relieve her. Free ranging chickens feed on long grass and weeds without difficulty and as they feed on it they ingest small pieces. With cut grass the entire blade is consumed and may present a problem. I know I will no longer be feed cut grass of any length. It's just not worth the risk. Had I not been there I would have lost that hen.

 

[Bridget399]

I don't give mine treats (strawberries, cucumber peelings, tomatoes, etc.) after 9 or 10 am. I figure it's getting too hot out anyway! But mine always eat their layerfeed after that. That way I know I'm not feeding them too many treats.

 

[Davaroo]

Its been a long time recommendation to make the noon day feeding one of green feeds. Garden trimmings, veggies, clippings and so on constitute "green feed."