Grazing frame plans to protect grass for chickens

[bbdal]

What a great idea! I know this question will show my lack of knowledge, but I am learning since our chicks are only 3 weeks old. If I plant wheatberries, millet, etc. under screens like this, what portion of their feed does this represent? Would the wheat seedlings represent wheat/carbs? If they are not growing long enough to go to seed, then are they getting much nutrition from just the green, leafy growth? Can you replace a large percentage of feed by doing this?

 

[aart]

You would have to research the nutritional content of what you plan to grow vs what chickens need, but in general any foraging the chickens are allowed to do in the yard will cut down on your feed costs.

Read, read, read .....take notes....tons of info here!

 

[shodack]

My husband found this idea when Googling (he's getting into this chicken thing!), and I'm wondering if there is a type of grass, or agricultural seed even, that would be healthiest for the chickens?

 

[centrarchid]

Look into clover.

 

[Grit]

Brilliant! I am going to include this in the new coop with run we are building for winter. Thanks so much for sharing, I am in Central Texas so winter grasses do well here and the girls will have grass year round this way. We have a chicken tractor/run/coop right now and will continue to use it in conjunction with the stationary one but in the winter it is dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home so I know I need something to make winter with our new flock more reasonable to work with.

 

[JayJo]

I'm building a grazing frame in the run right now. I'm making a 6'x6' raised bed, and then a wood frame with hardware cloth or welded wire that screws into the top of the raised bed (so I can remove and replant if needed.)

Question: what is the proper thing to put on top for the chickens to walk on? Given that they won't live on this, it will just be for snacking, is it okay to use some of my leftover hardware cloth? Or will that give them bumblefoot and I should use welded wire instead?

 

[aart]

I'm building a grazing frame in the run right now. I'm making a 6'x6' raised bed, and then a wood frame with hardware cloth or welded wire that screws into the top of the raised bed (so I can remove and replant if needed.)

Question: what is the proper thing to put on top for the chickens to walk on? Given that they won't live on this, it will just be for snacking, is it okay to use some of my leftover hardware cloth? Or will that give them bumblefoot and I should use welded wire instead?

Depends on what plants you decide to grow.
Plants with grasslike leaves will do well coming up thru 1/2" HC, broader leaved plants need bigger mesh.
HC can have sharp points from galvanization, depends on the manufacturer, sometimes they can be sanded off, sometimes not.
I use 14ga 1x2" cage wire on some frames, works for about any plants and is generally smoother.
Which ever you use, I'd strongly recommend covering the edges of the mesh with trim boards.

BTW...Bumblefoot is caused by staph bacteria getting into a cut, all cuts do not end up causing bumble foot.

 

[JayJo]

Depends on what plants you decide to grow.
Plants with grasslike leaves will do well coming up thru 1/2" HC, broader leaved plants need bigger mesh.
HC can have sharp points from galvanization, depends on the manufacturer, sometimes they can be sanded off, sometimes not.
I use 14ga 1x2" cage wire on some frames, works for about any plants and is generally smoother.
Which ever you use, I'd strongly recommend covering the edges of the mesh with trim boards.

BTW...Bumblefoot is caused by staph bacteria getting into a cut, all cuts do not end up causing bumble foot.

Thanks for the explanation! I was going to plant chicken forage blend so the HC will probably work in that respect. I'll check it for sharp points before I install it. The edges will be sandwiched between the top of the raised bed and the frame, if that makes sense. Didn't realize that bumblefoot is a staph infection - good to know! @aart I think you answer half the questions I ask. Thanks for being such a great resource and so helpful!

 

[aart]

@aart I think you answer half the questions I ask.

I have a ridiculous amount of 'free' time, love to help people learn/solve problems,
and 'pay it forward' as I've learned a ton from folks on forums over the years.