Lawn Substitute Okay for Hens?

[Kacey Elle]

I don't have a traditional turf lawn. Instead, I have a California native meadow with Blue-Eyed Grass. Is it okay if my hens range through it and possibly eat the grass or seeds? Anything toxic? Would they even want to eat it?

http://calscape.org/Sisyrinchium-bellum-(Blue-Eyed-Grass)

 

[X_and_Z]

This is a pretty good paper on native rangeland plants that may be toxic:

http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8398.pdf

Blue Eyed Grass is not listed, but you might want to review it in case other plants in your mix are listed.

I would be more worried that your chickens will destroy your meadow grass. In general it doesn't handle traffic well and chickens can be pretty tough plants.