Whats a good cover crop for a chicken yard?

[GuineaFowling]

I try to grow white dutch clover on my lawn and have it over take grass. Chicken end up making both disappear. If I were to be serious about growing clover as cover crop I would be using a rotating paddock system. If that is not feasible to a situation do what @Acre4Me suggested. I know that works because I have grown grass, clover, wheat etc etc like micro greens in plant starter trays and built a cage out of rabbit cage materials so the plants could sprout up high enough for chickens to eat but not completely deplete. It doesn't last forever with my method but plants in the ground will be a perpetual feeding... at least in spring and summer.

That's certainly the only way to prevent them from eating everything up. My lawn does very well, but it's had years to establish so no kidding haha! I wish I could speed up that process for the clover. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[EveLa]

Type of clover might matter too. We seeded a yellow clover as a cover crop to turn under this spring before it flowered. This clover is common as a cover crop, and often used for pollinators. It is a tall clover..not short like others. We had done get missed by the tiller and when we went to pull them out, it was hard to do..roots were pretty strong.

but another method is to use a wire frame Over the plants. Chickens can walk on frame and eat plants, but cannot scratch it up. Fence them out for awhile to regrow. You could make them all same size and make a few moveable fences to use where needed around the raised frames.

Great Idea!! Thank You!!

 

[swampfox440]

Thank you @ChickenCanoe I will try dandelion and alfalfa next
@Tonyroo They sure loved it!! I grow it for them as well, but I would prefer not to have to reseed so often due to their foraging. Do you think it would do better once the roots are established?

@chickenfinder I might give rye a go. The hens havent caused any issues on my established lawn other than pooping all over it, so maybe grass might do better

Your tag is incorrect ! I have went back to my original name the tag is @swampfox440

 

[swampfox440]

Your tag is incorrect ! I have went back to my original name the tag is @swampfox440

I would like to make another suggestion . Crimson clover is an annual clover that is one heck of a soil builder . Here in Ohio it is great when the frost kills it turns to a lot of organic matter .

 

[JDGreene]

I have crimson clover that I plant in September and it lasts all winter long. How does the frost kill yours?

 

[swampfox440]

I have crimson clover that I plant in September and it lasts all winter long. How does the frost kill yours?

think I got the seeds from a catalog . The flowers are big like that purple clover also I live in Ohio it can get -20 here and stay there for a wile . I bought it just so it wouldn't come back and it didn't . I will do some looking and see what I can find out . Thanks for the reply !
It may not be the same as what I planted . We plant in the spring and after winter every thing is dead except the perennial rooted weeds . All other clovers that I know of are perennial. but it was listed as an annual . I will get back to you when I find the catalog .

 

[swampfox440]

think I got the seeds from a catalog . The flowers are big like that purple clover also I live in Ohio it can get -20 here and stay there for a wile . I bought it just so it wouldn't come back and it didn't . I will do some looking and see what I can find out . Thanks for the reply !
It may not be the same as what I planted . We plant in the spring and after winter every thing is dead except the perennial rooted weeds . All other clovers that I know of are perennial. but it was listed as an annual . I will get back to you when I find the catalog .

www.johnnyseeds.com is where I got it It. Now lists under Green Manure . Thanks , Mark

 

[JDGreene]

Ok that explains it. If you plant crimson clover in the spring, then by next spring it will be dead whether frozen or not. I plant mine in the fall as a cover crop for my garden so it gets tilled under in the spring. The chickens forage on it all winter.

This early spring I planted a patch of ladino clover (perennial), never used it before, and it is still up. We only had about one light frost this year so I don't know if it will stay all winter or go dormant.

Don't you have a CO-OP around? That's where I get my seeds. Far cheaper than Johnnys seeds.

 

[swampfox440]

Ok that explains it. If you plant crimson clover in the spring, then by next spring it will be dead whether frozen or not. I plant mine in the fall as a cover crop for my garden so it gets tilled under in the spring. The chickens forage on it all winter.

This early spring I planted a patch of ladino clover (perennial), never used it before, and it is still up. We only had about one light frost this year so I don't know if it will stay all winter or go dormant.

Don't you have a CO-OP around? That's where I get my seeds. Far cheaper than Johnnys seeds.

Thanks !