Growing Grass in the Run

[HoopyFrood]

Brilliant ideas, all!

I know this is an older thread but in case anyone was keeping track of chicken devastation: we only have five hens. They have a 10'x21' run (210 sq ft) and a 14'x21' attached chicken garden (294 sq ft). They decimated that 500 sq ft in about three weeks.

We've started a rotation of fencing little pieces off and growing goodies safely that way. Once we unleash them on those goodies we fence off a different section and repeat.

Next spring I will definitely build some of those lumber frames with hardware cloth roofs that cavemanrich mentioned!

 

[fightingbunny]

I would like to grow something in a tray inside under lights and then bring it out to the run for them to eat. This is mainly for during the winter when fresh vegetation is not available. The shallow boxes made from 2x4s with wire on top look awfully for this. How do you make something that is portable and not too heavy? Also, what sort of greens should I grow in it?

 

[aart]

I would like to grow something in a tray inside under lights and then bring it out to the run for them to eat. This is mainly for during the winter when fresh vegetation is not available. The shallow boxes made from 2x4s with wire on top look awfully for this. How do you make something that is portable and not too heavy? Also, what sort of greens should I grow in it?

You don't really need lights if you have a decently sunny window.
I use wheat for a few days in an east window to green up after sprouting.

Not sure tote will warm soil enough to sprout in winter....might have to grow it inside.

Tuppereware type dish with drain holes added all around the edge,
that's wheat(people grade-haha) from the bulk 'health' store.
It's commonly called 'fodder' in the chicken world,
do a search you'll find lots of options.

 

[N F C]

In my chicken keeping research I was most attracted to the books/articles with 'cheap' in their name. I find those to have many very natural ideas without the need for the organic label. One idea was to grow herbs they like in the run using the same basic idea as the grass frame. Except, using old tires as the frame, then small opening hardware cloth on top. It said that you can start it when the plant would be too cold to start in the ground. You add stuff to inside the tire, so it is basically a raised bed. Plus, you put poop compost in first, and then dirt on top. The heat from composting heats up the dirt above it.

I haven't tried it yet since I have a black thumb, but I'd like to. I think I'll try mint first, even I probably couldn't kill mint. I've killed a couple of ivies, so there is still a possibility I could kill mint.

I like that tire idea! We have really poor soil here (picture semi-desert) so I could bring in some decent dirt for a tire. Also, being in the covered run, the deer couldn't get to it before the chickens had a chance.

Thanks for sharing that idea!

 

[fightingbunny]

You don't really need lights if you have a decently sunny window.
I use wheat for a few days in an east window to green up after sprouting.

That doesn't look like a lot of food. Do they eat it all the way to the root? I was thinking of having a few trays with the mesh on top that I would rotate and let the top regrow. I will never be able to grow anything permanently in the run, as there is no water for it there.

 

[aart]

That doesn't look like a lot of food. Do they eat it all the way to the root? I was thinking of having a few trays with the mesh on top that I would rotate and let the top regrow. I will never be able to grow anything permanently in the run, as there is no water for it there.

Yep, this is fed out as 'fodder' as a green 'treat', once it's about 6-7 days old just pull the whole thing out of the tray and toss into the coop or run. I only do this in winter when putting a grow tray out would kill it pretty quick.

 

[JMotuzick]

This is my variation of the mesh box. I had only a 13” wide piece of HC and used 2 furring strips to sandwich the seam. I figured it would prevent the sag anyhow and the grass should still grow around it. I haven’t checked the “greenhouse” I’m guessing it needs a few more days to sprout. The main run was planted 4 days earlier and it just sprouted today, but no “greenhouse”.

I’m cheep but should buy a couple 2x4’s and more furring strips. I have enough HC to make a bigger 2x8’ screen and my just do that...

 

[aart]

I have enough HC to make a bigger 2x8’ screen and my just do that...

Looks pretty good.
Maybe make two at 2x4, easier to handle.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I would like to grow something in a tray inside under lights and then bring it out to the run for them to eat. This is mainly for during the winter when fresh vegetation is not available. The shallow boxes made from 2x4s with wire on top look awfully for this. How do you make something that is portable and not too heavy? Also, what sort of greens should I grow in it?

All great ideas! I think I will try that next spring. I want to grow stuff around the outside pen as well.

I wonder if the nursery flats you get bedding plants in would work well to grow the grass/fodder in. Those plastic totes look like they might be a good fit over the flats. Just rotate them out on occasion.

Not grass, but I saw this "patio" outside a carwash with tree completely matting the roof. Thought it would be pretty cool to have something similar growing in the chicken pen. It would provide nice shade. I think this is wisteria, but maybe something like honeysuckle would work well -- here anyway as they are weeds. The chickens love the berries.

 

[aart]

Not grass, but I saw this "patio" outside a carwash with tree completely matting the roof. Thought it would be pretty cool to have something similar growing in the chicken pen.

Does look like wisteria, someone's keeping it pruned(which is a weekly if not more frequent job)...not sure you want that growing on your chicken run mesh, could end up tearing it apart/down.