Fertilized lawn and free range chickens...

[Velisabeth]

Not sure if this is where I should post. I had to fertilize my lawn yesterday and it’s a granular pellet for slow release. I make sure that I only use organic but it still worries me. My girls are free range and I wish they would stay on the hill but they love foraging throughout our grass. Do you think our organic fertilizer will hurt them? What should I do?

 

[sylviethecochin]

I make sure that I only use organic but it still worries me.

Organic most definitely does not mean "not toxic." Venom is completely organic. So is cyanide. Fertiliser contains nitrites, which are toxic in large amounts, no matter where they've been sourced.

On a happier note, they're unlikely to go around eating it. It tastes nasty.

Can you provide a link to the specific brand? n-p-k ratio?

 

[Velisabeth]

Organic most definitely does not mean "not toxic." Venom is completely organic. So is cyanide. Fertiliser contains nitrites, which are toxic in large amounts, no matter where they've been sourced.

On a happier note, they're unlikely to go around eating it. It tastes nasty.

Can you provide a link to the specific brand? n-p-k ratio?

 

[Kathy Golla]

As long as it’s omri certified you are good.
You can also make your own compost and put it on the lawn.
You can also feed your lawn clippings back into the lawn.
You will still need to fertilize up to three times a year but that’s not too bad.
Look up planetnatural.com if you haven’t already.

 

[sylviethecochin]

7-1-2 n-p-k?

(sorry--pause was for calculations)
Your chickens should be completely safe. (7 = nitrogen, 1 = phosphate, 2=potassium)

Assuming a 7-pound chicken, to have a 50% lethal dose of the nitrite, they'd have to eat seven ounces. Unless any of the other ingredients are toxic, I think you're fine.

EDT: for clarification, an average laying breed chicken eats about 1/3 of a pound, or 4.6 oz/day)