What to plant in the run?

[TXmom]

We get our babies next week, and we are in the process of building the coop and run right now. They will be inside the house in our brooder for several weeks, so I was thinking of throwing some seeds or something out there in the run so it can sprout and start to grow a bit before the girls get in there. I know once they're there, they'll tear it up pretty quick, but I still want to start with something good for them.

So is there any seed that I can spread out there that will grow fast and be good for them to eat? I was thinking about bird seed...but how fast will that stuff germinate and grow? I'm in SE Texas so the weather is pretty mild. Even though it froze a little bit last night, it was 60 this afternoon! Freezing is rare, and it's a very light frost if anything. We have new green grass growing in our front yard already...

 

[Omran]

I will plant nothing, because I swear chicken will eat people if they think they can.

But you can put some contractor mix grass seed. it will grow in 7 days if tempratre is good.
Omran

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If you want something down throw out some cheap grass seed. Make it cheap whatever you plant because as you said they will tear it all up.

 

[TillinWithMyPeeps]

I would highly recommend bird seed. It is incredibly easy to grow, it is cheap, and if given water and warm weather, it will germinate within a couple of days.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Probably the only thing that would grow now would be either Winter Wheat or Cereal Rye.

Most of what's in "bird seed" are warm season grains that shouldnt be planted for a few months

 

[rays123]

Don't put grass bc with all the chemicals they put on the seed will be present for at least 2 or 3 mnths and U will have a bunch of dead chickies

 

[TXmom]

Oh that's right, I forgot about that...a lot of grass seed is coated with stuff to make it grow. Hmmmm...so...grass, no grass, birdseed, no birdseed. OK now it's clear

I guess I can put some birdseed out and see if any of it will grow. We are a pretty warm coastal climate so maybe it'll be warm enough for little sprouts real soon. Or maybe I'll just stick with growing stuff outside of the run and throwing it in there for them...

 

[rooster0209]

Get some winter wheat seed or Oats to plant. Grows fast and the chickens will love it.

If you know any farmers, they probably have seed avail. You could get a coffee can full and be set to go

 

[digitS']

Your chickens may not even have hatched yet, right? It will be quite awhile before they are foraging heavily on whatever you decide to plant.

Often the first green food my chicks eat is lettuce. Sand Hill sells a "Chicken Treats" mix. Both should have plenty of time to develop during cool, East Texas weather, I'm thinking.

Wild bird seed is probably mostly millet. It requires corn-growing temperatures to germinate.

Steve

edited to say: Well, I see now that the Sand Hill mixes have millet in them so it must still be too early for that even in Houston. The other seed seem like good choices for cool-weather growing.