Is it ok to Put Sea Grass in my Chicken Run?

[BY Bob]

Um...that's actually illegal round here. It's protected because it supports a complicated eco system that includes the dugongs.

I'm sure someone must have thought about this before. There's such piles of the stuff & it makes great mulch once rinsed.

I meant piling it up, not pulling it up. Stupid phone.

 

[BY Bob]

I hadn't actually even thought about them eating it. That opens up a whole nuther train of thought with crop disasters such like.

Crop issues is why I worry about cut grass. Piling and composting might be a fun way to go.

 

[Ribh]

I meant piling it up, not pulling it up. Stupid phone.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

If what you are worried about is salt content I can't imagine that the grass holds more than the seaweed. It's still a form of grass, however it is not porous like normal grass. That also would lead me to think no worries. It can't be full of salt.

I actually don't like to give cut grass to my flock because they can't easily control the length they eat as they can when plucking it off the rooted plant.

I think it would make great compost. Have you thought about piling it up and every so often letting them have at it. Not to eat the grass but to eat what is living in the pile of grass?

I like BYBob's idea of composting. Maybe once it dries you could run over it with the lawn mower to break it up a bit for composting.

 

[Ribh]

I like BYBob's idea of composting. Maybe once it dries you could run over it with the lawn mower to break it up a bit for composting.

lol A lawnmower is something we don't own as we've never had lawn. I noticed when I collected a trial bag today it was in fairly small pieces already & the girls just spread it round hunting for bugs rather than trying to eat it.

 

[aart]

I would think once it's dry it would be fine for run bedding.
The salt content might not be good for composting as it may inhibit 'good bug' growth,
nor would it be good for making garden soil.
Can you post some pics of it @Ribh ?

 

[Ribh]

@aart : These are the big piles we get along the sea shore. The top is fairly dry but underneath is quite damp. It's no good for anything gardenish until the salt's been rinsed out. Once that is done it is excellent!

I gave the girls a small bag to experiment with. They foraged for bugs but weren't eating it. You can see most of it is quite damp. Mangrove leaves in there as well but not the yellow [poisonous]

 

[BY Bob]

lol A lawnmower is something we don't own as we've never had lawn. I noticed when I collected a trial bag today it was in fairly small pieces already & the girls just spread it round hunting for bugs rather than trying to eat it.

Perfect then. Have fun with it. It will keep them entertained.

 

[BY Bob]

@aart : These are the big piles we get along the sea shore. The top is fairly dry but underneath is quite damp. It's no good for anything gardenish until the salt's been rinsed out. Once that is done it is excellent!

View attachment 1948422
I gave the girls a small bag to experiment with. They foraged for bugs but weren't eating it. You can see most of it is quite damp. Mangrove leaves in there as well but not the yellow [poisonous]

View attachment 1948423

Wow, you do get a lot!

 

[aart]

It's no good for anything gardenish until the salt's been rinsed out.

Mostly humorous speculation but,
I gotta wonder if the salt ever really all 'rinses out'...
....and how do you know it has, taste it?