kill the dandelions, but free range the chickens!?

[chicky gal1]

Is this possible? Can I use my weed killer and just let the chicks stay in the coop for a day, then free range them again? Does the fertilizer hurt them? Just wondering what's the best thing to do. I love my chickens, and my husband loves a beautiful - weed free- yard : - )

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Your chickens won't eat your dandelions for you? Mine do...

 

[jhm47]

Some questions: What kind of weed killer? Will you be applying it only on the dandelions, or a blanket application over the whole lawn?

Fertilizer is not good for chickens, but they usually won't eat it anyway. I fertilize my lawn, and the birds don't eat any.

 

[ranchhand]

My chickens LOVE to eat dandelions!


ETA, they do scratch a lot though!

 

[Widget]

Honeybees love dandelions. They are one of the best food sources for them in the spring. So while you are planning on getting rid of them I'm actually sowing some seeds. Probably a good thing we aren't neighbors

 

[dacjohns]

It is an herbicide, a poison, that kills dandelions. It might be mixed with a fertilizer but it is still an herbicide. Neither one will be good for your chickens.

Waiting a day will not be sufficient. You will have to wait until the herbicide breaks down and will also have to remove the fragments of dead plant to keep the chickens from eating them.

 

[muddstopper]

Would you eat your grass after applying chemical herbicide? Would you like to eat your eggs after your chickens feasted on a herbicide laced food source? Read the lable on your herbicide bag or bottle.

Dandilions are best treated with herbicides in the fall to prevent emergence in the spring. Waiting until spring or summer wont do much to get rid of them unless you use roundup which would kill your grass also. Selective pull by hand and then feed the dandilions to your flock. You can also take a small brush dipped in glyphosate (roundup) and individualy treat each weed, being careful not to drip the herbicide on anything you dont want killed.

 

[crazyhen]

Dig up the dandelions and give them to the hens in their run. Problem solved. Jean

 

[cybercat]

Why does everyone hate dandelions so much. They are a great source of vitiamins make a great spring tonic and have a pretty flower. You can even use them young on salads and the flower makes a nice natural dye.

Any herbacide will be harmfull to your chickens. After all they are made to Kill hard to get rid of plants. Think about it.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Mmm... dandelion salad with chopped hard-boiled eggs & a warm bacon dressing... YUM!!