Growing greens from grain under a frame

[erinszoo]

Found an idea for using a frame covered in hardware cloth that is placed over a seeded bed. It can be seeded with anything but we are using a mix that is sold for growing for deer hunting that has wheat, oats, clover, brassicas, field peas, and a few other things in it. The idea is the grains grow up through the hardware cloth and the chickens can then eat it as they please but because they don't have access to the roots they won't scratch them up or pull out the roots and the greens can continue to grow. After a couple of months or when the greens die back, you can just remove the frame, let the chickens scratch up the soil and roots, and replant the whole thing.

I'll post pictures as we build it and it grows and see how it does. It sounds like a great way to have greens available for the birds for most of the year and to supplement their feed with fresh grown stuff. Has anyone else heard of this or tried this before?

 

[DanEP]

Do a search for salad bars on this forum and you can see what others are doing with the same idea.

 

[erinszoo]

Thanks!

 

[Vicky2479]

I have tried it but I put it in the wrong place, it got too wet and the hens just scratched more wet earth on top so nothing grew. I am just reorganizing my pen ATM so will give it another go, hopefully will have planted by next weekend. Good luck with yours the hens will love it if you can get it growing

 

[erinszoo]

Salad bar search on this thread doesn't get you much. Too many people suggest planting lettuce and other greens that won't grow up through the hardware cloth on the frames. Sure my chickens love lettuce, especially growing in a bed but if the grid is so big the lettuce and other greens will grow up through it then the chickens can get their heads through it and pull out the roots. Guess I'll experiment with it if my ankle ever gets better so I can walk well enough to do the work.

My husband's been building a frame and messing about with it but he's just made a big mess of everything and refuses to read anything about it or listen to anything so I"m going to have a big mess to clean up and fix when I can.