Weed and Feed?

[AnaD]

Both pesticides and herbicides raise the incidence of cancer in dogs and they do not even eat the grass as chickens do. I sure wouldn't feed my daughter any eggs from chickens feeding on poison.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Rent-a-goats-gain-foothold-1240623.php

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
I believe Weed Be Gone is 2,4-D. It's generally considered safe to humans, animals, and the environment. It's non-toxic to birds. There is a possible link to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in agricultural workers.

Would I graze my birds on treated grass? Hell no.

You can argue that this or that in itself is safe, but with the countless numbers of chemicals we are exposed to everyday you really don't know the combined effects. Why add one more to the list?

 

[Daphne16]

I would use just plain ole white vinegar or boiling water as suggested.
The vinegar is cheap to boot as is the boiling water. Dh spent some time outside pulling dandelions today and is kind of upset I won't let him use weed killer since we have chickens (who wants to risk it), but he also knew I hated him using it since we have young children who play on the lawn. We would have to keep them off the grass for at least a few days after he would put it down, not an easy task in the nice weather.

 

[Mattemma]

I read corn gluten gets rid of them over time.Dandies like alkaline soil so you can change the ph. If you don't mind testing the weed and feed out on the hens then spray and you could always have the meat/eggs checked here and there for pesticide residue.Only way to know. The MSDS should list the breakdown/half life of the chemicals. Dandilion coffee substitute is expensive.To bad you can't cash in on the weeds!

 

[Hixnstix]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6183728#

This is the link to the responses when I asked a similar question. Why are the answers sooo different!!

 

[knaup109]

Homedepot have some organic weed killer called EcoSMART. It is safe to use around pet.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Now this is helpful.

... and to some of you others who talked about how good dandelions are to eat, well, I went outside last night and tried some... they are good.

 

[Chickenaddict]

mmaddie's mom :

Can't I spray and just not free range for a few mowings?

Nope fertilizers and weed preventers stay on the lawn for up to a year or longer, it's not safe for children let alone chickens.​

 

[schellie69]

I just let the dandelions grow we use some of the greens in salads and my cousin makes dandelion jelly. I also feed them to my chickens no weed killer here. I don't want to risk any more chemicals in my ground then what is already there. I guess I figure everyone in my area has weeds/dandelions and if I spay I will just get more when the others go to seed. I just let them grow and feed to the chickens my one neighbor was pulling hers and feed them to my girls which loved them. She does not like weed killers either.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

mmaddie's mom :

... and to some of you others who talked about how good dandelions are to eat, well, I went outside last night and tried some... they are good.

That's how they got here to begin with. They are not native to the Americas. The colonists brought them from Europe to plant in their gardens for food and medicinal purposes.​