[sjsailing]

Hello all!

Is there a chicken-friendly weed and feed product on the market? Our garden is overrun by weeds and the chooks are not really al that interested in gardening!

They have a large run and are let out onto the grass 2-3 times a week for a change of scenery.

Can anyone recommend anything?

SJx

[orchardlady]

Have a look on the back of the packet in the garden centre. There should be a phone number and/or web site to contact them by. I've always found these customer service people very helpful.

Orchardlady.

[Helenaj]

You should have my hens - they've stripped it so clean it looks like the Gobi Desert!! 

[ManicMum]

I'd be reluctant to use anything chemical on the grass, whatever it says on the back of the packet, as you'd keep wondering if it was safe....

You could phone the company - or accept that you live with some weeds in the grass.

I think ours would best be described as 'natural' as we rarely use feed&weed due to hens and dogs.

[ehs284]

Sheep

[Helenaj]

Sheep

I'm not sure if they lay eggs....
 

[Sassy]

Could you split the area and do half at a time keeping the chooks off the treated area?

[Lindeggs]

Or you could do what I do - stop calling it a "lawn" or a "garden" and refer to it as a "farmyard."  That way you have different expectations of what it should look like - and weeds look perfectly at home!    The chickens running around adds to the farmyard feel.  Now I just need an old gate with some lichen growing on it to complete the ambience. 

[ChristyRose]

I personally wouldnt use anything with animals around.  My chickens strip everything bare!!  I use them to clear bits of garden as it makes it easier for me then!!     Are they young?  Have you not had them for long?  It is strange for chickens to not want to dig everything up.  Maybe throw some corn or treats into the weeds and they might start clearing it while they are looking for the treats?  Sometimes when I'm clearing stones out of my chickens run they come over to see what I'm doing and start scratching beside me.  Maybe they need you to show them what to do!! 

[sjsailing]

lol - me on my hands and knees nibbling the daisies!!!!! Try explaining that to the neighbours!

My two girls have their hen-house and a very generous run (about 10m sq), they only get on the remaining grass when I am home.  I am happy to go about digging out weeds and scattering seed (when the girls are not looking!) to keep the place looking pretty but my hubbie was wondering about tidying up the lawn a bit ... I had to ask the question! Not sure I will be using any chemicals after the advice above.  The girls love a lawnmower full of freshly cut grass to play in and chew every couple of weeks, I couldn't deny them that!

The front lawn gets treated as it is under a big tree and wants for attention but we never put that grass in the chicken-run or the compost heap. 

Thanks for the help.

SJx

[Sassy]

Please be very careful giving lawn cutting to your chooks. Cut grass starts to break down very very quickly and could upset if not worse your chooks. Personally I wouldn't do it

[kensington chicks]

Hi all,

Just read Sassy's reply about lawn cuttings.  I have put lawn cuttings in my girls outside run twice.  I thought it would just be like them having some fresh grass?

I won't be doing that again.   

It just shows that reading through this site is so informative.  Thank you.

KC x