The View From the Farm - Latest comments on Chckens vs. Tall Grass

In response to: Chckens vs. Tall Grass

ivan [Visitor] — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:28:42 +0000

To follow up, I decided I would not be defeated. I have a new batch of 25 pullet chicks from Privett, to go with the sole survivor of the massacre, who I am keeping safe and sound.

I ordered, and have received, electric poultry netting, and will be mowing the grass around the netting and around the chicken tractor inside of it.

If my problem was racoons, this should solve it. If it was mink, it might not, and I'd have to trap the mink. We'll find out soon enough, I guess.

In response to: Chckens vs. Tall Grass

ivan [Visitor] — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:54:38 +0000

Once again I have been wiped out by raccoons. It took them less than a month after my chicks arrived to murder them all. Until I can get some beef or other grazing animal to keep the grass down in my pasture, and invest in some kind of hot wire system, I might as well give up on the idea of pastured poultry and just build an impregnable stationary coop and run, with buried horse fencing.

In response to: Chckens vs. Tall Grass

AJ in AZ [Visitor] — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:28:27 +0000

I subscribe to your blog with Bloglines, and have bought several of your books.

This grass/chickens question brings up my question. What value do you see in alfalfa hay for chickens? I live on a rock hillside surrounded by BLM rangeland and CANNOT let my chickens run free, even if there were grass to be had. SO I supplement their layer feed with alfalfa and kitchen scraps.