going rogue

[PatriciafromCO]

Over the past 5 years been trying different things to improve my grazing areas and how my birds want to live they are smarter then I am. I feed larger grass eaters with the 8x4 haybales and when bales are eaten down and there is huge patch of hay on the ground Ive taken the tractor and scooped up sections putting in my orders of earth worms in there. Our soil is dead/clay type. It's been a nice success for a healthier soil but also for the chickens. Also put them around my buildings. Get excited that when it rains to see worms come to the surface and the chickens just having a field day with them. Ordering crickets and just letting them loose out into the wild lol... Also been tossing out micro green seeds/ground coverseeds and allowing the wild (weed) sunflowers to just take over. Lots of seeds and feed tossed on top of aged manuer piles. (any type of seed is so expensive so picking smaller areas has been cost effective) I has encourged the birds to go out and treasure hunt. And letting all my rogue nesters nest where ever they want. Rain/moisture years play a big part for success of hatching 100% especially happy letting my mommas take care of things with out me trying to micro manage them. Learned I don't have to feed or heat the babies this way. Use the raised rim tops of storage containers to put water in for the babies in the areas the mommas are keeping them. Walk around and check on the mommas to see how they doing make sure I place the water where they grazing at for the babies. Even coaxed one of my turkey momma's to move her babies to a more covered tall grass and weed area to sleep at night. They are really smart resourceful and good at what they do without me. I've noticed that their off springs do even better when they have their own. Was money well spent on the earth worms and crickets for thriving and multiplying on there own. Have a good group of barn cats that don't bother birds or their babies. Ive changed so much in the years of raising birds I have to smile.... they so much smarter then me.. lol.. just wanted to share.

 

[Hungry Chicken]

That's amazing! So glad it worked out for you and the birds!

 

[AGstudy]

Sounds like you have made a sweet home for those birdies of yours!

Just a tip for your soil. Adding agricultural grade gypsum (good calcium source) will change the chemical balance (calcium vs magnesium) of your soil, loosen it up and help it drain better. There are also some theories (William Albrecht) that argue that forage crops that are grow on soils with higher calcium develop more proteins, which improves animal health and reproduction. I say agricultural grade gypsum because it is a soluble powder that can be watered in. It takes multiple applications to see results.