Grass farming (resolved, with link to other thread)

[Xtina]

Great answers, thanks guys! Rebel, the question stems from a new interest in rotational grazing, which was why I wanted answers from experienced people like you. Thanks!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I mostly use rotational grazing with horses. One horse can decimate 1 acre of pasture an about a month. My brother has 1 wooded acre we use as a sacrifice/winter paddock. I have about an acre of pasture an so does another friend. Rotating between the 3 we can keep 6 horses but by our selves we could have only kept 1 each. We would have also had to feed hay all year round but this way we feed hay only when there on the sacrifice pasture. Mostly in the winter.

I've used the same idea on a smaller scale with my chickens. The real limiting factor when it comes to pasturing large numbers of poultry is housing that is both large enough for the job an also movable.

UGA as some articles on rotational grazing as do many other collages.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't think you can treat chickens as you would herbivores on pasture, as chickens don't actually graze. They will pick and choose sprouts and some greens, but they won't graze the area down.....more likely they will trample, dig and scratch, and bald some areas while other areas will grow up and the weeds will gain dominance. Changing their grass rotation will help keep areas from being decimated and will give them better choices, but I think the good annuals would not replenish theirselves and the good perennials would not flourish unless you are actually managing the grass.

Now, if you were to rotate your chickens after an herbivore or two, like some sheep, you would definitely develop your beneficial grasses, the more nutritious perennials and annuals, the chickens could keep your parasite load down by eating the larvae and scattering the droppings(therefore increasing the benefit of the manure), and you could benefit from two species being on the same graze.

Depends alot on if you just want to avoid bald ground or if you are interested in developing nutritional food sources for the chooks. If its the former, simple rotations will keep from balding but will have to be mown down. The latter will have to have some other form of graze managing to produce better pasture.

 

[Xtina]

Interesting. Well, what motivated the question is that after I move out of Portland, we're planning on getting a small farm. So I was planning on rotating chickens after whatever I have, either sheep, goats, or cows, depending on the land we get. What else will I have to do to keep the grass healthy and with a good mix of varieties? Where can I go to learn more about grass?

 

[Beekissed]

I can only refer you to the Grand Master of Graziers~Joel Salatin! Locate his books at the library or on Amazon.com. Everything you need to know, in detail, about grass farming you will find in his books, Salad Bar Beef and You Can Farm.

The man is very straightforward, some call him preachy, but I like his approach. No fancy-fartin' around,he tells it like it is, and here's the proof, etc. He certainly got my attention!

After reading his books, I am starting the same venture on my own smallholding, using sheep and a Large Black gilt, with temporary electric paddocks this spring. I already free range the chooks, so they will benefit greatly by the improvement of my existing grasses once this project gets going. Its very exciting to be able to effect change on my grass using natural ways, without overseeding with grass species that may not thrive in my soils/area.

 

[Xtina]

Yeah, I read the Omnivore's Dilemma and a good portion of the book had him in it. But that wasn't enough of a lesson. Guess I'll go straight to the source then. Thanks!