Is this safe! Need replies asap.

[cluckmecoop7]

You watching the chicks to make sure they're not eating any long strands.

You're too funny!

 

[Egg Blues]

My chickens used to eat long grass just like that all the time and they hardly ever had health issues!

Keep an eye out that they aren't eating long strands of the grass. It can bunch up and cause an impacted crop.

That's exactly what I was asking about. Am I supposed to stand there and watch all eleven chickens?

I think you'd stand there an awfully long, long time before noticing any supposed ill effects of the grass. I've never witnessed, nor even heard of, a chicken harmed by "long grass." I'll grant that it is possible, but I think it's quite unlikely. I would say the likelihood of them being harmed by a venomous snake would be higher. I have seen many, many chickens foraging in tall grass, as I like my own to do, with nary a problem for any of them. I'm with @Lovely Lettie on this one--the grass is good for their health. I'm curious if @lomine has had some personal experience where a chicken developed a problem. I'd be open to learning about it, but it would be less likely to change my opinion on the benefits of grass for chickens than a car accident would change my opinion on the usefulness of automobile transportation. Where I am, we even have some tough grasses, like lemon grass--and the chickens will just ignore those. They have instincts.

 

[lomine]

I think you'd stand there an awfully long, long time before noticing any supposed ill effects of the grass. I've never witnessed, nor even heard of, a chicken harmed by "long grass." I'll grant that it is possible, but I think it's quite unlikely. I would say the likelihood of them being harmed by a venomous snake would be higher. I have seen many, many chickens foraging in tall grass, as I like my own to do, with nary a problem for any of them. I'm with @Lovely Lettie on this one--the grass is good for their health. I'm curious if @lomine has had some personal experience where a chicken developed a problem. I'd be open to learning about it, but it would be less likely to change my opinion on the benefits of grass for chickens than a car accident would change my opinion on the usefulness of automobile transportation. Where I am, we even have some tough grasses, like lemon grass--and the chickens will just ignore those. They have instincts.

I don't keep my grass long so this hasn't been an issue for me. I have seen videos on Facebook and YouTube with impacted crop operations. On more than one video they are pulling out long strands of green grass. If you're curious you can google it. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind on grass. Just pointing out a very real danger that people have experienced.

Did I say no one should keep chickens on long, green grass? No, I said it could be an issue and to keep an eye out. Did I say that meant staring at the flock all day? No, that's ridiculous. An impacted crop is pretty noticeable so any watchful keeper should see it pretty quick. And if someone is really worried, they can just cut the grass.

The post said "I haven’t used this run for a while and lots of grass grew and took over. Is it safe for them to pick at tall grass?? Need replies asap because they are already in it." If OP was specifically worried about impacted crops and wanted to know ways to prevent it, that should have been made clear. Seeing as no one else talked about impacted crops, I know I'm not the only one that didn't mind read and somehow know that's specifically what was being asked.

I'm done with this thread.

 

[Egg Blues]

I don't keep my grass long so this hasn't been an issue for me. I have seen videos on Facebook and YouTube with impacted crop operations. On more than one video they are pulling out long strands of green grass. If you're curious you can google it. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind on grass. Just pointing out a very real danger that people have experienced.

Did I say no one should keep chickens on long, green grass? No, I said it could be an issue and to keep an eye out. Did I say that meant staring at the flock all day? No, that's ridiculous. An impacted crop is pretty noticeable so any watchful keeper should see it pretty quick. And if someone is really worried, they can just cut the grass.

The post said "I haven’t used this run for a while and lots of grass grew and took over. Is it safe for them to pick at tall grass?? Need replies asap because they are already in it." If OP was specifically worried about impacted crops and wanted to know ways to prevent it, that should have been made clear. Seeing as no one else talked about impacted crops, I know I'm not the only one that didn't mind read and somehow know that's specifically what was being asked.

I'm done with this thread.

I meant no offense. I think you supplied good information, and it was certainly appropriate for this thread. There are always pros and cons to everything, and a certain amount of risk. I'm glad for your participation and warning. It's helpful to hear all sides of a question to be able to make more informed decisions. I'm just casting my vote on the side of the risk being too negligible to be a cause for concern. I also appreciate the fact that you have clarified both that your grass is short, and that you have had no issues. I have had no issues whether the grass has been short or long, and I haven't cut my grass for nearly a year, specifically because, as we were entering the dry season, there would have been too little left for the chickens (short grass doesn't fare as well in hot tropical sun)--and, though the rains have begun again, I just haven't gotten around to cutting the grass yet, which is quite long now.