Weed killer

[Amydeluna00]

Planning to spray the yard with Spectracide weed killer, but hesitant. My chickens currently don’t free range, and likely won’t free range for another month or two since they are still little and we are all still getting used to each other. If I spray now (while they are put away in their coop), would it be safe for them in a month or two?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you are applying it to lawn, depending on where you live, it should rain enough and be mowed enough the residue will be minimal.

 

[ChaosMom]

Tough on all the bees and other pollinators, though.

 

[Penpal]

The weeds you kill are probably good for the chickens.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The weeds you kill are probably good for the chickens.

X2
Many common weeds are excellent forage for chickens.
I'm thinking dandelion, chickenwort, clover among the many that come to mind.
It kind of flies in the face of a perfect bluegrass or fescue expanse of lawn. Where are one's priorities.
But to each his own.
à chacun le sien

 

[Perris]

Planning to spray the yard with Spectracide weed killer, but hesitant. My chickens currently don’t free range, and likely won’t free range for another month or two since they are still little and we are all still getting used to each other. If I spray now (while they are put away in their coop), would it be safe for them in a month or two?

if you don't like weeds in your lawn, you probably won't like what the chickens might do to it either. A bowling green and a flock of chickens isn't a happy combo, for either party.

 

[Altairsky]

I use gliphosate to kill weeds growing on the sidewalks and had no problems with the chickens. Normally they don't forage on the cement tiles, but I just spray it in the evening when they're roosting so they don't try to eat what I just sprayed.
They would kill to taste what I just sprayed, if they see that I'm spraying something. Especially copper. Copper must give that special flavor I guess.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Lawn + Chicken = Dirt.
Honestly, there is a reason I even keep my garden beds with veggies separate. Hubby calls them 'Little demo-landscapers with zero appreciation or discretion'

 

[Perris]

Lawn + Chicken = Dirt.
Honestly, there is a reason I even keep my garden beds with veggies separate. Hubby calls them 'Little demo-landscapers with zero appreciation or discretion'

not necessarily; it depends on the stocking density. See e.g.

but they are prone to create dust baths where they see fit

There have been no chemicals on this lawn - weedkillers, pesticides, or fertilizers - for >20 years btw. The chickens freely provide weeding, pest control, and fertilizer, as they go about their daily life.

 

[CabritaChicks]

not necessarily; it depends on the stocking density. See e.g.
There have been no chemicals on this lawn - weedkillers, pesticides, or fertilizers - for >20 years btw. The chickens freely provide weeding, pest control, and fertilizer, as they go about their daily life.

I think it really depends on your location and how much space you have—your chickens have access to a forest, which makes a big difference. A lot of backyard chicken keepers are working with just a lawn, and if you're aiming for a pristine, magazine-perfect lawn, chickens definitely aren't a great match. (which is why people spray it to remove crabgrass, etc)

I don’t use any pesticides or chemicals either as we have acres of jungle and the chicken free range. Right now, our temporary coop is set up on dense clay soil in a specialized portion of the property during construction of a building on our property. The only things that manages to grow there are hardy weeds and wild grasses—though honestly, many of those so-called “weeds” just look like grass to me anyway if we keep it weed whipped.