Want to make a fodder crop lawn for my flock.

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Right I have a some what large flock this year. I started chicken keeping last year with 6 hens which grew to 14 hens and a Roo by the time dec rolled around. This year it has grown well up over 50 chickens with great hatch rates which I totally blame my excellent German made Heka Incubator with a 95%+ hatch rate over 4 hatches of 70-90 eggs per hatch group.

But with just 15 chickens and a bit of a harsh winter this past year (winter 2017-2018) I went from grass to a mud pit. Now instead of going and reseeding it with grass I was thinking of turning the large area that was grass (roughly 14' wide by about 22' long) into basically a large fodder crop area for them to free range on and have open access to layers feed,water etc.

A seed place I know of is selling a green manure autumn/winter mix that has:
15% Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
20% Broad Leaf Clover (Trifolium pratense)
30% Westerwolths Rye Grass (Lolium multiflorum)
35% White Tilney Mustard (Sinapsis alba)

I know they can eat clover but can they handle rye grass and is white tilney mustard? I'm surehey could not eat it they would avoid it right?

Anyone know what else I can plant from now all they way to next year as fodder for my chickens? Kinda want to maximize what I can do for them feed wise and what plants would be of great benefit for them to eat. all help & imput is great appreciated.

 

[True Patriot]

I'm not sure what you have available in the UK. This has some general information on feed grasses.
https://extension.psu.edu/pasture-grasses-and-forages

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

I'm not sure what you have available in the UK. This has some general information on feed grasses.
https://extension.psu.edu/pasture-grasses-and-forages

Think I know a place that sells timothy grass/hay seeds here in the UK.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Not grasses/grains, but chickens love them - broadleaf plantain and comfrey

 

[Folly's place]

Here we can get mixed plantings for wildlife/ pheasants. See what's available, and think of both pasture and 'weed' plants, herbs, and shrubs, especially with fruits and berries.
That's not a big area for fifty chickens! Expect to have a mess, especially if unprotected seedlings.
Have fun planting, replanting, and trying things out. The birds will love all of it!
Mary

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Not grasses/grains, but chickens love them - broadleaf plantain and comfrey

I'm sure I can get comfrey easy enough.

Here we can get mixed plantings for wildlife/ pheasants. See what's available, and think of both pasture and 'weed' plants, herbs, and shrubs, especially with fruits and berries.
That's not a big area for fifty chickens! Expect to have a mess, especially if unprotected seedlings.
Have fun planting, replanting, and trying things out. The birds will love all of it!
Mary

That area is just the area we had grass on our garden (yard) goes from about 16'-18' wide down to 14' wide near the house and is round 60' long.

In their covered run they have blackberry and raspberry plants we also have 2 elderberry trees which they love along with a pear tree our neighbor has a small apple tree that has kinda grown over onto our side so they have that as well and atm there is a hole in our fence that our neighbor uses to let the chickens into his yard to "mow" his grass and get rid of his weeds (dandelion weeds that I swear are 2ft tall+).

My father in law brings cabbage,carrots, beetroot,beatroot leaves,apples,pears, broccoli, cauliflower etc over in a huge box about once a week needless to say once they know we have it and where it is the break into our porch to get to the box lol.

But yes defo replanting with this lot lol I'm sure my hoard could clear a pasture in under a week lol I also don't have as many chickens after this afternoon I rounded a lot of them up and found 12-14 roos hiding with some of the older girls they are all being taken today some are going to be breeders/flock protectors and others most likely dinner but at least I know they guy he's nice and he took 6 off me only 2 weeks ago. now I mostly have a large lot of hens and a single male who I swear gives me the your joking 20+ hens and I have to deal with them look lol.

 

[Ra_]

I've grown a lot of Rye Grass for my birds.
They like it.
Sunflower microgreens are among their favorites.
I'm now growing Comfrey.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

I've grown a lot of Rye Grass for my birds.
They like it.
Sunflower microgreens are among their favorites.
I'm now growing Comfrey.View attachment 1529354

Sunflower microgreens?? what breed of chickens are those they are pretty colors!

I have found some of older planting seed most look to be in good shape.
I found some I can plant now and was wondering if anyone Knew if they were safe for chickens I mean I think they are but wondering what ya'll think
I found:
Lambs lettuce aka corn salad.
Basil (red leaved).
Basil (sweet) .
Lettuce (winter density)
Borage.
Spinach (beet perpetual).
Spinach (bloomsdale).
Kale (nero di toscana).
Oregano (greek).
Chives.
They say I can plants in sept/oct and some say jan to dec. Had no clue how many free seed packs I got over the last few years in my garden magazines.

I also ended up buying the green manure winter mix seed that I talked about in my original post hopefully it will be here soon.

Ill be buying:
Comfrey (found I had bought some dried for soap making and took a little out for them and they mobbed me).
Dandelion.
Marjoram.
Tyme.
Rosemary.

Anyone know of herbs that benefit chickens? I was thinking like argimony,burdock, echinacea,meadowsweet etc.

 

[glib]

The mix described in the OP is fine. They will eat everything.

 

[Ra_]

Sunflower microgreens?? what breed of chickens are those they are pretty colors!

They are Serama.

A lot of the seeds you mentioned will put up a wispy little seedling.
Sunflower seeds put out a thick, juicy seedling in just 7 days.
They love it.
40 pound bag of Black Oil Sunflower seeds is about $17 at TSC.

Nutrition info:
http://sproutingseedsoflove.com/nutrition/sunflower-microgreen-sprouts-nutrition-information