[cammi]

I cut grass to put in their run the other day, but remembered reading that they shouldn't eat long grass.  So how long is too long

[rachelr]

Get some cabbage thats as good as grass this time of year.

[cammi]

Yeah i tried cabbage but none of them would touch it 

They would eat carrot tops but of course you need alot of those and they are ear marked for the GPs really, hence why i cut them some grass.  Perhaps i need to try a different variety of cabbage

[Casey76]

You shouldn't really feed cut grass at all (though there is little risk of fermentation at this time of year!), but when chickens eat growing grass they tend to snip the ends off which will pass through the crop OK.  With longer pieces they will eat them whole, and they can form a fibrous mass in the crop causing a blockage.

If you really want to feed grass (and they don't normally have access) grow some in seed trays

[8doubles]

When the chooks are grazing they never seem to take more than 20mm per peck.
The shorter it is the less likely it is to ball up in the crop.
My hens prefer kale,spinach and broccoli leaves to cabbage, leaves on the stalk are better than chopped or loose leaf as the hens find it easier to tear off bite sized pieces.

[cammi]

by cut grass i don't mean grass cutting i go out with a pair of scissors and cut some then cut then into their run at rough 15mm bits, and only enough for them to eat there and then, is there still a fermentation risk then?

I have got a grow bag tray full of compost in the green house which i have sown grass seeds in but not sure how long it will take this time of year to grow

I have basically tried all the things i have in the fridge for the guinea pigs, curly kale spinach and the other day was pea greens.

[joyfull]

you could always buy rolls of turf 

[cammi]

you could always buy rolls of turf  

now theres an obvious idea and i did see homebase had some in the other day.

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

Another thing to try with the greens is perhaps cooking them?  I know it seems like pandering a bit too much to the feathery brethren's whims but I know my lot won't always eat some types of veg raw but love it when it's been cooked...   

I know, I know - I'm a soft touch!

[rachelr]

i just look for the half price stuf in the super market. they love curly kale and green peppers oh an mushrooms. not so keen on carrots but brussel sprouts if they are chopped up small lol