Newbie - what to plant for a forage crop?

[jaycees]

I am a newbie in the Chicken world. Building a chicken tractor coop but the area I have to put the coop is at present lacking greens. What type of forage crop can I put in for the chickens I hope to get as soon as I finish my first wood working adventure. I live in Australia.

jaycees

 

[blue fire]

grass......

 

[twentynine]

turnips, rape, clover, grass, weeds,

they will make use of it all

 

[lauralou]

My chickens love clover, and it is very easy to grow. Here. Not sure about there.

 

[old fashioned]

I've also heard "Italian Ryegrass" is a good poultry pasture, but I'm new also and don't know for sure and am really clueless about your area.

sorry. I just know that my chickens will eat just about anything and everything, including anything green or greenish tint. (LOL)

 

[RioLindoAz]

A couple of weeks before chickens come, plant some grass in the run area. Don't trim it, alow it to become thick and matted. It will take a while for your chickens to chow that down completely, and if its kept watered (twice a week) It'll keep growing.

 

[jaycees]

Thanks to all for the help. Coop is coming along nicely and should be finished in a week, have to make time for all the other things in life

I had racked over the site for the chicken coop and run and noticed that over night I had visitors of the four legged variety - cats only I hope, but think I should maybe put chicken wire on the bottom of my mobile chicken coop for extra protection.

Taking my time in putting this all together and making sure I have everything in place before getting my chicks. It is the season for the farm shows over here in Australia so I can have a look at the variety of chickens available and line up with a seller or two.

jaycees