Weeds

[Chicken 859]

Our hens live in a large run, we don't free range them un supervised due to the risk from predators.
I understand hens will eat weeds, etc. Do I just pick them and throw them in the run? Also how about greens like nettles etc from the woodland near our house, is it safe to give them that? I'd just like to give them a little variety in their diet.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I throw everything in the run. Whether they eat it or not is up to them, but at least it decomposes and helps balance the soil. The only things I don't throw in there are the really long overly woody weeds/dead flowers because then I have to go through and pick them up again.

 

[chickens really]

I never pick anything for my Birds...Impacted crop or sour crop can happen if they swallow long pieces..They naturally pick off small pieces of plants as they free range....

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I've never had issues. The weeds, hay, etc in the run are usually at least a foot long so it's near impossible they will swallow them whole

 

[PD-Riverman]

Our hens live in a large run, we don't free range them un supervised due to the risk from predators.
I understand hens will eat weeds, etc. Do I just pick them and throw them in the run? Also how about greens like nettles etc from the woodland near our house, is it safe to give them that? I'd just like to give them a little variety in their diet.

Do You have a garden spot? I grow a lot of things for the chickens, but mainly collards, mustard, etc. With Collards---if you have enough plants---when the plants get good size you can break a few leaves a day and throw it to them. Also if you got a fresh tilled place or a soft yard that the grass grows good at----you can use a sharp flat shovel to scoop up pieces like "sod" to carry to them.
What I been doing this year is framing up 4ft x 4ft squares out of 2x6's with 1"x1" 14 gauge rabbit cage type wire over the top. I soften/till up spots in the chicken run---plant things like regular whole corn, rye, millet(in the summer) then lay these 4x4's over the fresh planted spots----then when the green starts growing through the wire the chickens have a lot of greens to eat.

Its kinda funny to watch them at day-light---they go running to these boxes----jump right on the top and start eating the greens that have growed a little over night.

I found that the 1"x1" 14 gauge is the best over 1/2x1/2 or 1" chicken wire or bigger----if its big enough they can get their head through it---they will pull up all your plants---that is also why I use 2x6 instead of 2x4's----it works Perfect.

Oh and the reason I use 4ft x 4ft instead of bigger is so I can easily tilt the boxes out the way to plant more later when needed----not have to remove the wire---just move the whole deal and replace after replanting. A few of these in your chicken run---if you have space---stagger planting them will keep them in greens if you don't have a huge amount of chickens. Just a piece of a bag of whole corn will plant and replant a long time.

 

[lazy gardener]

I throw everything in the run. Whether they eat it or not is up to them, but at least it decomposes and helps balance the soil. The only things I don't throw in there are the really long overly woody weeds/dead flowers because then I have to go through and pick them up again.

SHK: I also throw all green matter into my run. Including dumping the bags from the lawn mower. Never had issue with impacted or sour crop. The flock goes nuts over this stuff. They made incredible compost last winter. I'm now harvesting it. I dumped EVERYTHING into a huge heap, including all manner of woody stuff: corn stalks, woody weeds, wood chips, leaves, Sorghum stalks, sunflower stalks. None of it recognizeable now.

Do You have a garden spot? I grow a lot of things for the chickens, but mainly collards, mustard, etc. With Collards---if you have enough plants---when the plants get good size you can break a few leaves a day and throw it to them. Also if you got a fresh tilled place or a soft yard that the grass grows good at----you can use a sharp flat shovel to scoop up pieces like "sod" to carry to them.
What I been doing this year is framing up 4ft x 4ft squares out of 2x6's with 1"x1" 14 gauge rabbit cage type wire over the top. I soften/till up spots in the chicken run---plant things like regular whole corn, rye, millet(in the summer) then lay these 4x4's over the fresh planted spots----then when the green starts growing through the wire the chickens have a lot of greens to eat.

Its kinda funny to watch them at day-light---they go running to these boxes----jump right on the top and start eating the greens that have growed a little over night.

I found that the 1"x1" 14 gauge is the best over 1/2x1/2 or 1" chicken wire or bigger----if its big enough they can get their head through it---they will pull up all your plants---that is also why I use 2x6 instead of 2x4's----it works Perfect.

Oh and the reason I use 4ft x 4ft instead of bigger is so I can easily tilt the boxes out the way to plant more later when needed----not have to remove the wire---just move the whole deal and replace after replanting. A few of these in your chicken run---if you have space---stagger planting them will keep them in greens if you don't have a huge amount of chickens. Just a piece of a bag of whole corn will plant and replant a long time.

Nice plan.

 

[blackdog043]

You can also give them fruits and vegetables. Here's a link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens.47738/

 

[ChickenMammX4]

We dump weeds, grass clippings & veggies from the garden into the run, The hens love the stuff. Never have had an issue with impacted or sour crop.

 

[Chichi_08]

I've been giving our ladies grass clippings, weeds, flowers, veggies, etc. They love it.

 

[janz70]

becarefull with grass clipping if your grass is long, I had a few cases of sour crop last year. Cut your grass then a few days later cut it again and give them that.

This year bind weed is going crazy so I pulled some up and threw it into the run, next day not a leaf left only the stems horray I hate bloody bind weed, they peck at nettles but dont really eat them (might be better wilted a while)

never tried docks but wont touch sticky weed or thistles.