free range - dandilion take over

[kingsdaughter]

Ok I need help. My chickens are 4 1/2 weeks old and I plan to free range them, but dandilions are taking over my yard. To the point that its pretty embarasing. I havent put any weed killer on yet because I want to free range the girls. What can I do? Is the weed killer only bad before it kills the weeds? Does anyone use anything to kill dandilions? I am planning on getting some ducks since I heard that they eat dandilions and I cant think of any other way. I dont know that a few ducks can get this under control. Any advise would be helpfull.

Thanks

 

[pattycake]

I'd just mow the dandelions down! A short, well-kept lawn looks okay with dandelions in it, imho. And the only non-chemical way I know of to get rid of them is to dig them out, one by one... no fun at all.

 

[4H kids and mom]

You can make your own all natural and perfectly safe to humans and animals weed killer using ingredients in your kitchen. Here's the recipe:

• 1 gallon of white vinegar.

• 1 cup of table salt.

• 1 tablespoon of washing up liquid

Mix everything together making sure the salt is completely dissolved.
You can then pour this into a spray bottle or one of those weed sprayers you can get at any garden center. You spray this solution directly on the weeds you want to get rid of preferably on a hot day. One thing to remember with this solution is to not get it on anything you don’t want to kill and don’t spray it on the soil. It is non-selective in what it kills meaning it will kill any plant life it comes in contact with and it will sterilize the soil for up to two years depending on how much you get on the soil.

If you are concerned about getting the vinegar solution on your desirable plants you can use a cloth to wipe the solution on the leafy parts of the weeds. This will keep any of the solution from coming in contact with the plants you want to keep.

You can read more at the following websites for other recipes and ideas:

http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about146.html
http://ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020515.htm
http://www.whynot.net/ideas/2137

 

[kingsdaughter]

Im not sure your idea is for my situation.

 

[Oaknim]

Oh that's not bad at all!

In the beginning of Spring, our yard was nothing but those little white puffs - DH would start cussing up a storm about how our yard looked like a cotton field. Now they seem to be dying back as our weird grass has finally grown in - it's different than our other grass, much finer and a diferent shape and shade of green. ???? It seems to overcrowd all the weeds and kill them, but it doesn't start turning into a nice green carpet until about now. It's brown for a good part of the Spring. I pull our dandelions up one by one and feed them to the horses and goats. It's a neverending battle, but I figure I like filthy fingernails and an aching back, so what the hey! ~ Oaknim

 

[Whirlwind]

My girls love dandelion greens. That is all the greens they ate all winter, because that was the only thing that was green. I don't think it looks that bad at all. When your chickens are free ranging it will be beautiful.

 

[Saltiena]

i don't understand, can't chickens have dandilons, my lawn looks pretty much like yours , kingsdaughter, i just mow over them!

 

[countrygirl4513]

Dandelions, here in TN have a season, then they are gone. They are a nuisance though. MOW THE LITTLE SUCKERS DOWN!! Those and wild onions drive me crazy!!

4-H kids & mom- does that vinegar mixture really work? I mean like Round-up? Cuz I'm tired of paying boo-coos for weed killer. I am very picky about my landscaping so I use Round up weekly. So if your recipe can save me some $$$$ then I'm gonna give it a whirl!!

 

[tiffwilhelm]

We have dandelions and a clover patch for a lawn. We were hoping that between the rabbit and 4 chickens that they'd take over the weeds, but it looks like I'm going to have to get a goat!

Okay, okay, my husband says no more pets. I just keep mowing the heads off them. And I have a nice recipe for dandelion salad if you want it.

 

[jessupfamily]

Dandelions are really good for humans (tons of uses for us) and animals (good natural source of vits and minerals). They are a natural source of protein (*chickens that eat feathers need protein). They are rich in vitamins A, B, C and E. Lots of calcium (*no egg eaters here)and potassium! Our chickens love them when they are yellow or puffy. It's fun to watch them chase some of the puffs that get caught in the wind! Leave them, God must have provided them in abundance for a reason! But chickens usually eat them like they are a treat.