4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[millymollymandy]

hi i am a bit concerned about the amount of grass in my chickens poop!

A lot of the poop I pick off the lawn has loads of long bits of grass in it and some are more grass than poop!

They are locked in the eglu at night but then spend all day free ranging in the back garden. I know it sounds silly but are they eating too much grass?

Somedays I have left them in the run all day so they just eat pellets but i'm a softy and give in the next day and let them back out.

Am I worried about nothing or is this normal.

[Egluntyne]

I'd be careful about long grass as it can ball up and cause impacted crop.

[cluckbok]

I agree with Egluntine, long grass can be trouble. We tend to only let ours out in the afternoons after 2pm ish and then let them go in by themselves at dusk. They get at least 2 hours a day. That way they stock up on all the pellets that they need for laying. They do have a way of making you feel guilty by pacing up and down a bit, but we just ignore it and only let them out in the afternoons. You can put plenty of hentertainment in the run i.e. peckabloks, bits of cabbage etc.

[judith67]

I also have a rule - no free range before mid-day so they can stock up on pellets. (Not that there's any grass left in my garden anyway )

[millymollymandy]

I am afraid because of work they either have to be in or out all day as I don't get back till after dark. The only other way would be to let them out for an hour before work then shut them in again.

I also don't know if I am being irresponsible letting them free range when we are not there. Haven't seen foxes around but neighbours have. I don't like leaving them in the run all day think I will have to invest in a big walk in run at least that way I can reclaim my garden.

[madchickenlady]

I don't think chooks can ever free range too much. Mine are out for at least 5 hours a day. They have pellets available all the time, and just scrub around looking for natural goodies in the garden. I give them some porridge or corn before bed in this cold weather (and the odd handful of raisins and sweetcorn! ) I have pure breeds though, so I'm not sure about hybrids. I think that they have been bred in such a way that they have different nutritional needs.

[C&T]

I am afraid because of work they either have to be in or out all day as I don't get back till after dark. The only other way would be to let them out for an hour before work then shut them in again.

 

That is exactly what we do - they get let out for half an hour / hour in the morning, and then they are in their run all day while we are at work. And they don't always get the hour/half hour in the morning... This way, I know they are safe from foxes, the cats can't scare them (or chooks area bit daft) and I know they haven't escaped! They have plenty of hentertainment - hanging veg, mash instead of pellets etc. And when we are in at the weekend, they can run around outside to their hearts content.

 

It is the reason we only got 2 hens, as we have not got enough space for a run extension, and knew while we were at work they would be confined to barracks!!

[Baggins]

Mine have always free ranged all day every day.

 

I like to think that I have happy healthy hens - their pellets and mash are always available to them and they often go back to them to feed up (I'm watching them right now throwing - and hopefully eating - mash all over the place). Also, I've only had one incidence of impacted crop which we fixed with live yogurt and undyed maggots.

 

It's a decision for you to make but I personally don't think that they can eat too much grass - too many mealworms or sunflower seeds maybe ..... can a human eat too much salad?!

[Egluntyne]

I also have a rule - no free range before mid-day so they can stock up on pellets. (Not that there's any grass left in my garden anyway )

 

 

Ditto to all of the above.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I would just be worried sick... I had a friend who left hers out all day too. she lost both lots ar different homes to foxes.!!!!!

Like wise the many people on the forum. Especially if neighbours have actually seen them!

[badgerbluebadger]

After today and nearly losing Sam to a fox I would never leave my girls out without me. I work full time so mine only get to go out at the weekend!

[moomin]

Mine too, they only get let out at the weekend.

 

Until the Spring & Summer comes and I can let them out when I get home from work