Weed and Feed?

[fresheggsdaily]

I would not free range on any grass that has been treated. You don't know how long the chemicals stay in the lawn/soil. If a few dandelions bother you....then pull them by hand or get some goats ! There's no point raising your own hens/eggs if you're basically going to apply poison to their food source.

 

[The Tinman]

Did you know that dandelions are good for detoxifying your body. Instead of spending a fortune at the drug store for detox cleansers just eat some dandelions. If you keep your ass clean your mind will follow

If you want to treat your lawn treat it with Chicken poop tea. Take some dried chicken poop, crush it up, add water,stir, pour it through a strainer into a spray bottle. This idea came to me when I realize the back yard is ALOT greener than the front yard. This has never happened befor I had chickens.

 

[RaZ]

Weed and Feed programmes rarely work. It's mostly a marketing gimmick aimed at suburban lawn rangers. The pesticide is harmful to the soil and your flock. It drives away the beneficial insects that live in the soil so you are really prolonging and compounding the weed problem.

There is no good solution other than physically removing (pulling) the dandelions. I realize that folks with large lots or acreage can't do this. The on ly thing you can really do is mow high, 3.5 - 4 inches. Tall grass shades the weed seeds and they don't germinate.

Try showing your chickens just how tasty the weeds are. Mine come running when I pull dandelions for them.

 

[GoChick]

Quote:
x2.
Since we got chickens, I asked my husband not to use ANY chemicals. For a while the lawn looked awful, but we kept at it, weeding by hand and keeping the grass high. Our lawn never looked better. We have almost one acre of lawn.
- aerate
- weed
- mow high
- be patient...

 

[MareeZoCool]

Hi, I try not to use any pesticides.

I got the BEST BUG CATCHERS!

I just grab my post-hole digger spade, and all my chickens come running! It's so simple to dig up each dandelion, and allow the chickens to feast on the instant lunch of bugs & greens.

All it costs me is some calories.

 

[sanyijr]

MareeZoCool wrote:

Hi, I try not to use any pesticides. I got the BEST BUG CATCHERS! I just grab my post-hole digger spade, and all my chickens come running! It's so simple to dig up each dandelion, and allow the chickens to feast on the instant lunch of bugs & greens. All it costs me is some calories.

That is so awesome!!! I will have to do that too. Aphids and all I assume!!!

And worms to boot!​

 

[NewChickHere]

I see this is an old thread but I can't eat our dandelions because we have a dog, a cat, stray dogs and cats that roam around in this country area and deer etc. I would have no clue as to what all has peed or walked on the dandelions. I imagine they are good but I'm not taking any chances. Yuck. lol.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

x2. My policy is: if you wouldn't eat something that you put on the grass that they eat, don't subject your chickens to it.

Two great choices....

Pull them.

(Or hit them repeatedly with a shot of White Vinegar)

OR

Leave them

Weed killer will get ingested by animals. I pull them and then put weeds into their run. Works well.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

x2. My policy is: if you wouldn't eat something that you put on the grass that they eat, don't subject your chickens to it.

Two great choices....

Pull them.

(Or hit them repeatedly with a shot of White Vinegar)

OR

Leave them

Weed killer will get ingested by animals. I pull them and then put weeds into their run. Works well.

 

[NewChickHere]

Thank you for your replies. How would I keep the chickens while free ranging to not eat anything around that a dog or cat may have peed on? I don't I can right? I do not use any fertilizer or anything on the weeds or the grass. I just choose not to eat them myself because I know my dog goes all around the yard. Well so will the chickens when they start free ranging and I don't think I can cover every weed or bush etc that a dog may pee on right?

Thank you.