Planting a forage mixture

[gocgo]

So, my setup is that I have my coop with multiple exits. One exit is to the run which is over 500 sq ft. Another exit is for free ranging and a 3rd exit is to a small 4x8 run that I am going to try planting a forage mixture in of flax, clover, alfalfa, etc.. My plan is to let it grow, open that exit for a few days depending on the amount of damage that the girls do (15 of them), then replant as needed and repeat. Anyone done anything like this? If so, I'm curious how long the mixture takes to germinate and grow given normal watering (it's right by my garden) and above freezing temps.

 

[AmazingRachel]

I'm going to be doing this and I'll be using this. I'm pretty sure it takes just as long as grass takes to germinate, so a week or two. I've read that you need to mow the pasture when it reaches 6 in. in height so that you get new growth.

 

[gocgo]

I'm going to be doing this and I'll be using this. I'm pretty sure it takes just as long as grass takes to germinate, so a week or two. I've read that you need to mow the pasture when it reaches 6 in. in height so that you get new growth.

I am using the same mix! Different brand, but the same mixture of seed.

Nature's Seed Mid-West/Mid-Atlantic Poultry Pasture

 

[Chasingcars]

These sound amazing plans...For those of us with smaller plots it’s still a lovely idea ...I planted up a living roof on one of my coops last year so through the winter they’d have non soggy grass and herbal plants to munch on..I figured I’d replant every year ..
TOTAL SUCCESS! If I do say so myself
Provided one extra air vent as obviously insulating the roof to this extent reduced airflow and I had a humidity & temp monitor in there...results from this nerd experiment support this as a great way to keep coop warm in winter, cool in summer and provide interesting mix of greens for winter munching...it’s a little bare now we’re at the tail end of winter here in England but I’ll replant in the spring..