Trapper Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Hi all Wanted to know if anyone has found a safe grass food that can be used if chickens are free to roam in your garden? Apart from the obvious!!! Also has any one found a weed killer that can be used on weeds that will not affect chickens? I'm not using anything just asking to find out if there is a safe solution. Chickens only let out at weekends. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Sorry....can't help...but I have noticed that if the hens are allowed access to the grass for just short periods, or if you have a big enough garden that you can rotate the areas that they roam in, they do a marvallous job of de-thatching the lawn and eating the weeds, and the lawn can look beautiful. The trouble is they don't know when to stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 If you're hoping for a beautiful lawn and chickens, I'm afraid you will be sorely disappointed Since I'm an organic gardener, I've never treated my lawn with anything, so I'm afraid I can't help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 ... ditto, I wasn't organic until I got the chickens, but I'm just too cautious to put anything down now that they might consume. The only exception is that I use glyphosate on the brambles, I'm over-run with the cursed things and I only use it on high-up leaves where the chooks won't reach. Sorry I can't help! you could make chicken-poo 'soup' and water it in, that should make the grass grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzie Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I don't know how many weeds you are talking about I have used boiling water on dandilions to kill them no chemicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baby bears mum Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 We've got a big garden so feeding the lawn is something we've never done - can't afford it. As far as weed killing goes OH once used a blow torch!!!! Wouldn't recommend it cos he managed to set fire to one of our trees - we put it out quickly so not much damage other than too OH's ear after I'd bent it for a few days. (When our daughter was little every time she saw smoke she thought someone was having a BBQ - says a lot doesn't it ). I think your best bet is to just dig them up as you go. Good luck. Helen xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Any of the persistent weeds like dandelions, docks and nettles I dig up and throw them in the run. Every part gets eaten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I have found to my amazement that the garden is almost weed free, due to the chickens scratching between the plants all the time. Only trouble is, some of the smaller plants go too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 From reading various posts on this forum I'm beginning to think that we won't have any grass or plants worth worrying about when the girls arrive I guess the only plus is we'll be saving a fortune in lawn food and weedkiller and won't need to find out which chemicals are chicken and pet safe. I just haven't old my OH who spent all last year perfecting his lawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Rabbit Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 If it was you who was just about to start keeping hens, would you just let them on part of your lawn so that you still have a nice bit to sit on or if it's a reasonable size and there are only 3 hens would it not get tooooo trashed?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...