Poisonous pasture grasses/weeds for chickens and geese.

[Pgw]

I am getting chickens and geese soon and plan on letting them supplement graze in my pasture within electric fence. My question is whether my pasture grass is safe. Have no idea what I have. I know previous owners grazed horses. Have never reseeded but wanted to add to what I have by overseeding with a poultry forage mix. Is there a particular grass or weed I should be wary of. I know I've had hairy vetch in my daylily bed. Not seen in pasture. Live in upstate South Carolina.
Thanks!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I am getting chickens and geese soon and plan on letting them supplement graze in my pasture within electric fence. My question is whether my pasture grass is safe. Have no idea what I have. I know previous owners grazed horses. Have never reseeded but wanted to add to what I have by overseeding with a poultry forage mix. Is there a particular grass or weed I should be wary of. I know I've had hairy vetch in my daylily bed. Not seen in pasture. Live in upstate South Carolina.
Thanks!

I won't worry, chickens, & Geese know what's edible to them.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I'd not worry too much. Unlike horses, chickens and geese are smart enough to avoid dangerous plants. Maybe if they were starving they might get stupid but even then I doubt it. They tend to peck at new plants out of curiosity but I've never seen a chicken eat something dangerous.

Might do some cross fencing to be able to rotate the pastures every week or so. And think about some cover for protection from winged predators. Even a few chopped down bushes with limbs to scramble under would help.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have actually used Equine pasture seed in my chicken/goat pasture. Is it a great mix for your chickens? Nope. No collection of grasses is. Is it safe? Yep. In fact, if you compare it to a poultry pasture mix, many of the ingredients are the same. Poultry mixes often add clovers, vetch, peas. But are mostly perfectly safe grass seeds.

As observed above, given options, chickens will generally avoid eating to excess anything which is likely to be short term hamful to them.

Do make sure you have grit available.

and as additional reassurance, here are some of the things in my pasture (or were, the snow and the goats together have put a lot of pressure on mine. I'm fertilizing and re-seeding this weekend).