sod trays

[mendozer]

I've been thinking of making sod trays that I would regularly cycle in and out so my girls can have grass without tearing it to bits. They tore their run down to nothing and now it's just dirt. I feed them vegetable scraps almost daily, but I figure a tray of sod would keep them company all day. I was thinking of making a tray out of pallet wood. Any experience with this?

what grass is best? my home's owners left Scotts TurfBuilder in the shed outside.

 

[shadetech]

There are some on here that have built a frame with wire on it that the grass growsup through that I think I am going to try in my runs. May give the chickens a green spot to work on longer than scratching up the whole run the way they always seem to.

Maybe someone3has the link to these frames they could post. Seemed like suc a good idea I kind of committed it to memory.

henry

 

[mendozer]

won't they try to scratch and end up dragging their feet on the wire?

 

[mikecnorthwest]

The Garden Coop website has some great info on this and a short video showing a grazing tray in action. I'm thinking of doing this. Our last cycle of hens were allowed to free range which resulted in lots of poop in the grass, on the patio, as well as lots of dirt on the patio. For this cycle of hens we just completed a large run attached to the coop so we'll have our backyard back. We're thinking of putting one of these grazing trays in the new run.

http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2012/02/07/grazing-frames-backyard-chickens/

 

[mendozer]

right on that's good information. I'll be doing this in a restricted area of their run, so maybe I can make this frame and then put like 3 or 4 of the 2x4 trays underneath. I would imagine I still need to be able to remove things otherwise I may never get to grow things. in other forums I found this great blend of stuff to plant

http://www.groworganic.com/omega-3-chicken-forage-blend-irrigated.html

 

[Chickiee]

Mikecnorthwest, thanks for the grazing frame link... We're going to try this!

 

[mendozer]

does the grass type matter? I've got a huge backyard that I'd love to let them munch on. However, due to a former incident of safety, they're restricted to a 12 x 20 run. Can i just use backyard grass chunks as my grass or is the "omega blend" necessary? I do feed them veggies and fruits as a snack too

 

[Chickiee]

Mendozer, check out Mikecnorthwest's link in the post just before yours... it talks about grass types with the grazing frames and is very helpful.

 

[JoieD]

Hmmm, I have a sand run. How would this work out? Looks like I would need to put a bottom on the frames and fill with dirt. How deep do you think I would need to make them?

 

[mendozer]

well if anyone was interested, i did make a couple frames and although the grass is still alive underneath, the top is covered in crap since they love to just hang out on top the frames. I tried flushin it out with water, but you can barely see the grass. It's most definitely not growing through the mesh