Winter Rye

[Three Cedars Silkies]

This year we sowed the entire backyard in which the girls and boys free range during the day with winter rye. It looks soooo nice and they just devour it. We no longer have to feed anything green during the winter months when the yard grass is frost bitten.

 

[rdranch]

I've heard lots of good things about winter rye. How well would it grow in eastern Colorado, and when should it be planted?

 

[elmo]

I just ordered some to try. I'm a few months behind schedule this year, but we'll see how it goes anyway.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

It will grow well as long as the weather is cold/cool. In Florida we can sow it around the middle to end of November and it will begin dying around April to May when the weather gets above 80 and stays for a while.

For all you guys in colder climates you should be able to have it from Sept. through May. It doesn't freeze here at temps of 14 degrees a month ago so I assume it would be fine down to 0. Don't know for sure.

Just toss the seed into your current grass before a rain and it will come up between your current grass, then eventually die out when the weather gets hot and the regular grass starts growing. It's very fine and soft and the chickens eat it like candy.

 

[Ullie]

Thanks, after reading this I am going to plant some winter/fall rye in one of the grazing beds.