The hens and dillies are laying. Though I fear that we will have a cold
snap
that fresh all the nests we haven't found.

Meanwhile, besides kudzu what should I plant in the new chicken yard for
the
hens to eat. Currently I am thinking along the lines of a couple of
Catopa
trees for shade and feed. Fences with wild black berry to help slow
escape or
entry of the yard while providing berries in their season. I am thinking
of a
large outside run with wire over the top to keep the hawks and owls
honest.
That run would open onto a larger free range on one side. On the other
side
would be an earth bermed (on three sides) henhouse.

What kinds of grasses or other edible weeds should I add to the chicken
range?

Did I miss anything important? Yes, plenty of water and oyster shell
available
in all areas.

What kinds of grasses or other edible weeds should I add to the
chicken range?

I don't know where you live, but I would never deliberately plant kudzu
unless you live in the Orient. It's very invasive. My chickens love
hanging out under the blackberry bushes. They don't seem to find them very
threatening. Chickens do like blackberries, but they seem to prefer
blueberries. I'm suspecting you won't get many worms on your Catalpa tree
if you have chickens--they drop to the ground to mature and grow into the
moths that lay the eggs that make the next generation of worms. Chickens to
an amazing job of consuming anything that drops to the ground.

Where I am, I'm improving with legumes (probably some sort of clover) and
millet. Next fall, I will probably plant turnips, mustard and alfalfa in my
pastures. I'm also looking for Molasses grass.

However, if you have lots of dandelion and other wild lettuces, you're off
to a good start. These are probably about the most nutritious greens
available to feed to chickens.

Vandy Terre wrote:

What kinds of grasses or other edible weeds should I add to the
chicken range?

Look up "game cover" for references to seeds for birds
It depends a great deal on where you are and your climate - without knowing
that its pretty difficult to suggest much

On Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:47:38 -0000, "Jill"
news@NOSPAMkintaline.co.uk> wrote:

Vandy Terre wrote:

What kinds of grasses or other edible weeds should I add to the
chicken range?

Look up "game cover" for references to seeds for birds
It depends a great deal on where you are and your climate - without
knowing that its pretty difficult to suggest much

Georgia, growth zone 8, high acid heavy clay soil.

Could you, please, point me in the correct direction to look up 'game
cover'?

past with little luck in receiving an answer.

On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 21:58:48 -0600, "Amy Blankenship"
Amy_nospam@magnoliamultimedia.com> wrote:

I don't know where you live, but I would never deliberately plant kudzu
unless you live in the Orient. It's very invasive. My chickens love
hanging out under the blackberry bushes. They don't seem to find them
very
threatening. Chickens do like blackberries, but they seem to prefer
blueberries. I'm suspecting you won't get many worms on your Catalpa
tree
if you have chickens--they drop to the ground to mature and grow into the
moths that lay the eggs that make the next generation of worms. Chickens
to
an amazing job of consuming anything that drops to the ground.

Perhaps at least on Catalpa should be planted out of easy range of the
chickens.

Where I am, I'm improving with legumes (probably some sort of clover) and
millet. Next fall, I will probably plant turnips, mustard and alfalfa in
my
pastures. I'm also looking for Molasses grass.

Clover is a good idea. Stay away from alfalfa, it makes the egg yolks
green
which tends to upset people trying to eat them. What is molasses grass?
Do you
have another name for it?

However, if you have lots of dandelion and other wild lettuces, you're off
to a good start. These are probably about the most nutritious greens
available to feed to chickens.

LOL, I have tried to establish dandelion for the last fifteen years with
no
luck. The poultry along with the goats and sheep keep any dandelions
eaten to
the root before they have more than three leaves. This year I am planning
to
run a chicken wire hoop over the dandelions.

I am unfamiliar with 'wild lettuce'. Any chance of a Latin name or
phylum?

On Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:47:38 -0000, "Jill" <news@NOSPAMkintaline.co.uk
wrote:

Vandy Terre wrote:

What kinds of grasses or other edible weeds should I add to the
chicken range?

Look up "game cover" for references to seeds for birds
It depends a great deal on where you are and your climate - without
knowing
that its pretty difficult to suggest much

Georgia, growth zone 8, high acid heavy clay soil.

Could you, please, point me in the correct direction to look up 'game
cover'? I
have contacted the Forestry and Agriculture offices in the past with
little luck
in receiving an answer.

Quinoa [Cranola] is one of the most nutritious things you can grow

Kale and other brassicas

Seeding grasses that vary their time of shedding

On Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:47:38 -0000, "Jill" <news@NOSPAMkintaline.co.uk
wrote:

Vandy Terre wrote:

What kinds of grasses or other edible weeds should I add to the
chicken range?

Look up "game cover" for references to seeds for birds
It depends a great deal on where you are and your climate - without
knowing
that its pretty difficult to suggest much

Georgia, growth zone 8, high acid heavy clay soil.

Could you, please, point me in the correct direction to look up 'game
cover'? I
have contacted the Forestry and Agriculture offices in the past with
little luck
in receiving an answer.

"Jill" <news@NOSPAMkintaline.co.uk> wrote in message
news:45dab353$0$8749$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...

...

Quinoa [Cranola] is one of the most nutritious things you can grow

Do you mean the greenery or the seed - or both?

Can it be grown in Yorkshire?

Kale and other brassicas

Agreed. Spinach is fought over.

Seeding grasses that vary their time of shedding

Our hens have eaten every bit of green grass in the garden. We keep
seeding and protecting with hooped chicken wire but they jump on it
until they can get their beaks to the grass.

Yes I DO give them lots of other greenery :-)