Want to plant for my chickens, raspberries or blueberries a good choice?

[mmurek]

Just wondering what I can plant for my chickens to forage on. Would the thorns on raspberries be an issue? Any other suggestions?

 

[glib]

the production of biomass is minimal, unless the take a liking to the leaves. can you protect the plants until they reach adulthood, and fence them in again once they are stripped? I like alfalfa better, you have to plant it every five years, and you can cut it (graze it) three times a year.

 

[sierranomad]

Just a thought that may or may not be relavent. It is my understanding that we want to keep wild birds away from our chickens to the extent reasonable because of disease, worms they may carry.

I grow blueberries and have them completely enclosed in chicken mesh, with plastic bird netting on top. Every year I go over the whole fence with a fine toothed comb to secure it from birds, and every year they find a way in. In other words, if you plant berries, you will attract wild birds.

But this is my first year with chickens. Maybe the wild birds will be just as vigilent getting into your run to get to the chicken food, I don't know.

Jon

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Just wondering what I can plant for my chickens to forage on. Would the thorns on raspberries be an issue? Any other suggestions?

Yes, mmurek, the thorns could cause bumble foot in your flock. They love chickweed! It grows wild.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

I plant chard in pots and periodically rotate them to the front of the house (where the girls don't go) so that the pot they've been munching has a chance to regenerate before they completely devour it. They love chard with colorful stems, and it's good for them. I also never see any other birds show interest in it.

 

[Akrnaf2]

A good choice could be Kale, Lettuce, Chard, Arugula,and you also can seed this seeds: Sunflower,Wheat,Alfalfa,Barley. they eat the seedlings in a grate appetite!

 

[sierranomad]

Yes, mmurek, the thorns could cause bumble foot in your flock.  They love chickweed! It grows wild.

See www.beautyofbirds.com/bumblefoot.html for information on the causes and treatment of bumblefoot.