Plants that are good for poultry forage and green manure.

[DianeB]

I have a small urban backyard that I want to make more sustainable. I have always been interested in biointensive vegetable gardens. In this approach, green or compost crops are pivotal to maintaining soil fertility. I would also like crops that can double as foder for my chickens - or at the very least are non-toxic. Does anyone know what type of legumes and cereal crops that are non-toxic, nutritious, deep rooted and grow a lot of biomass? Are there any particular foder crops that anyone uses for their poultry? Any resources I can use?

Thank You

 

[digitS']

DianeB, I have grown beds of plants intended just for my chickens. A couple of them are wheat and field peas. I don't recommend growing them together, however. The wheat did okay but it must have really suppressed the peas. Both can be grown separately and have produced very well for me.

A green manure that I have grown without making any use of it as a chicken food is winter rye. Wow! Talk about producing a good deal of biomass!

Steve

 

[elem]

Buckwheat! It's a warm weather crop that grows really fast and produces lots of greens for composting. Chickens can eat the leafy part or the seeds if you let it flower. I wait until most has gone to seed and then I let the chickens in and they make quick work of the seeds leaving me with seed-free greens to use in the compost.

I also have comfrey that I use in compost and the chickens do eat some occasionally. You will have to do some research on the plant to form your own opinion as some research indicates that if you/chickens consume large quantities it is toxic and comfrey is difficult to remove once it is established.

This year I plan to grow alfalfa, borage, and rye for the chickens and as cover crops.

 

[possumqueen]

Way to go, elem!! Buckwheat it is! I chop mine down in the middle of summer and let it come back again. The wild birds love the seed as well as the chickens, and I had honey bees like I'd never seen before! It doesn't do well in shade, though.

Alfalfa is also a deep root plant that will break up hard soil, and it will recover and continue to come back four or five years in a row. It's full of calcium, too, if your girls are laying a lot.

What is borage? I've heard a lot about it, but I've never tried it.

 

[DianeB]

Borage! Thats great because I just bought some seeds to grow for my own use. (They have cucumber tasting leaves and very sweet flowers.) Buckwheat sounds great. I was also thinking about millet, quinoa, oats, wheat and triticale. I already put it in their feed mix. Daikon, winter radishes, chicory, salsify and carrots may also be a good choice since they have long tap roots that should bring up nutrients and foliage chickens love. I also just ordered some of these seeds. Maybe some red and white clover, too, on the shady side yard. It gets really hot here so it may appreciate a cool area during the Spring and Summer.

I am leary of using comfrey. It is toxic even for humans. I also understand that alfalfa is toxic in large amounts, too. Has anyone read or heard anything about this?

Thanks

 

[Chris09]

Try here http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-280-green-manures.aspx?source=google_green_manure_seed&gclid=CIOM66b93p8CFdkB4wodAWb5Hg.
They have some good Mix's.

Chris

 

[Organics North]

DianeB,
Have you grown quinoa before?
Curious if any one has, their success, and their climate.

I have been researching quinoa. Quite interesting!

ON

 

[ziggywiggy]

Quote:
We grew alfalfa and our chickens spent hours in it. I know it can bloat sheep if their systems are not used to it and they eat too much. I'm not sure if the same is true for chickens. I'm planning on planting it this spring for my chickens. I'll have too watch them close when I first let them feed on it.

 

[DianeB]

Quote:
Its realtive of spinach and amaranth domesticated in the Andes. If it is anything like amaranth (the easiest crop in the world to grow - personal experience), then I should have no problem growing it. I assume that it is more of a cool season crop like others from the Andes. There are some quinoa and millet seeds that were thrown out in the garden a few weeks ago. The quinoa sproated very fast. Too bad my chickens ate the seeds before I could see how well they grow.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Fava Beans