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[E4eggs]

Could I have some advice please?

 

At the weekend when I was gardening, ably assisted by my four girls (although we differ in our opinion as to how the lawn edges should look - I favour crisp, smart edges - they prefer the smudgy, blend the grass into the earth look), I noticed that the grass is very full of weeds.

 

Now, in the past I would have just applied "weed 'n' feed" stuff, but now with the chickens I hesitate. I have both water-in stuff and granular. Some say that they are safe to use around children and pets ... is this after they have been watered in? Has anyone used them where they have chickens, or rabbits, etc. Keeping the chickens off the grass long term may be tricky (well not if they're kept shut in - I just have to answer my guilty conscience).

 

What do others do? Even with the kids, cats and chickens I like to try and keep my little green haven. Please don't say that I have to learn to love my weeds!

[Mel (& Paul)]

You wont have to learn to love your weeds

The chooks will eat them all

(as well as all your grass...................)

 

We dont use weed and feed - but what about using a "pet friendly" one watered in last thing at night after your chooks have been shut up for the evening - I wonder if the granular ones might seem a bit of a temptation for pecking chickens

[Gallina]

I would fence off areas and do a bit at a time. I wouldn't mix hens and any form of weedkiller.

 

I only use lawn sand on my grass, and I do it early in the spring when the hens don't get out much. I fence it off when they do come out. That gets rid of the moss and feeds the lawn. I don't have many weeds and dig them up with a daisy grubber.

[jomaxsmith]

I was planning to have Green Thumb come and sort out my weedy lawn, then got chickens and after a chat with a nice lady at Green Thumb realised that having my chickens eat grass that had been treated with weedkiller might not be a great idea.

 

 

Jo

[rachel m]

we had green thumb treatment in april and had to try to keep them off it for 2w. but after 1w, thet kept jumping over the temp fence, so we gave up. not sure if would go to this hassle again, as the lawn is turning into one big dustbath!

[Stevie]

Although the majority of granular weed n' feeds are pet safe-i do think chickens would continually peck at the individual grains because one of the active ingredients is ammonium sulphate and animals seem to be drawn to it.When i've used it in the past and gotten it on sole of shoes-all my past & present dogs have always licked it off.It is pet safe,but i eat chicken eggs so wouldnt risk it making its way into eggs.

 

I'd switch to soluble weed n' feed from now on.This stuff goes into the soil and shouldnt pose any risk to chooks.

[Abbey Road Girl]

I do have a very small garden (about 17' x 35') but I am amazed that anyone with chickens would even consider that gardening is compatible with having critters which will lay siege to all and sundry! I mean, bindweek went from being an overpowering plague to a scarcity.

 

I am thinking of hiring mine out for clearing neglected allotments.

[E4eggs]

They are clearing some of the flowers beds very nicely (not just of flowers but of the weeds, and as for slugs and snails, well, you can keep your frogs and toads!) but my lawn is full of clover which is rampant. May try the doing-a-bit-at-a-time-and-keeping-hens-excluded method.

[SharonX]

I used to have Greenthumb come round and the last time they came we had just got the chickens and whilst I was out my husband came home and let them out straight onto the grass literally a couple of hours after Greenthumb had left. I paniced when I found out and phoned Greenthumb expecting to hear the worst but was told that although not ideal them eating it, it certainly wouldn't do them any harm. She suggested not letting them out for 24hrs after application had been made.

We have now cancelled greenthumb basically because they eat anything that looks like a weed and seemed pointless.

I haven't even cut my grass since we have had them (Feb) Does anyone else need to get the lawn mower out anymore or is it just me? I find it quite baffling how the whole area is the same length with no long patches or anything. Just always looks freshly cut!