grass length and impacted crop??

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

Hi everyone, chicken newbie but I'm sure you know that from my many posts . We would like to start bringing out our will-be 5 week old chicks to their run for outside time next week. I am reading mixed things about them eating long grass and the possibility of impacted crop. The grass in the run is pretty long since it hasn't been cut and they haven't been out, it is easily as tall / taller than a 5 week old chick. Is this length of grass dangerous for them to be eating? Should I snip it shorter since they are so small still? They will have chick grit once they start going out. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

 

[ChickForLife]

I have some long grass too. Didn't think it was bad but I have no idea?

 

[BuckeyeAmy69]

I don't worry about it when I put my chicks out on grass. At 5 weeks, they aren't strong enough to really rip the blades of grass, although they do enjoy picking at it. I prefer to put them in an area that has been mown recently because the chicks are small at that age and they seem to get buried in a sea of grass!

I also offer chick grit the moment I introduce anything other than chick starter feed.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Mine gave never had a problem, and I let them out even earlier. From my understanding, it's cut grass that is more problematic. They usually only pull of bits of the planted grass. Can't do that if it's cut.

 

[Doc7]

Long grass is fine, it’s when you cut it that it’s a problem. I don’t let me chickens free range for about 48-72 hours after mowing the lawn.