Grazing Frame Failures - Need Suggestions

[gtaus]

I built a nice grazing frame for my chicken run. It is 3X12 feet long. It has 1/2 inch hardware cloth on top of a 2X4 frame. I was all excited that I would be growing some green grass in the chicken run that the chickens could eat but could not dig up or pull out. The first year, two years ago, my grass did not grow well because the chickens scratched so much dirt and other debris on the top screen. That pretty much blocked out the sun and the grass stopped growing. It was a failure. Strike one.

Last year, I added another 2X6 frame underneath the original, raising the top of the grazing frame to about 7 or 8 inches above ground level. I planted some mixed yard grass seeds in it, and the grass grew early in the summer, but stopped around mid-summer. Maybe we did not get enough rain, or the grass was just not hardy enough. In any case, I consider last year a failure as well. Strike two.

I was out in the chicken run this afternoon cleaning up things and taking out some scrap trees that started growing in the run. The grazing frame is mostly covered with dirt and debris right now, but I took a picture of it for this post...

Again, this is a 3X12 foot grazing frame and right now, it's mostly covered with dirt and debris. I plan on cleaning off the screen and removing the soil around the frame so that it sits about 7-8 inches higher than the ground level. That should help keep the chickens from scratching debris on top of the wire.

Assuming I get all that done, I am now asking for some suggestions as to what seeds to plant in the grazing frame this year. I live in northern Minnesota. My chicken run does not get water unless it rains. I have not had much luck planting my regular lawn grass seeds in the grazing frame. Can anyone suggest other grass seed or grains that would grow good in the grazing frame? This is my third year, and if I cannot have some success with my grazing frame, I am going to take it out and move on to something else.

Any suggestions appreciated in advance.

 

[Sally PB]

How about clover? Once it's established, it needs less water than grass. Can you "help" it get going by watering it, if needed, for the first few weeks?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Watching this thread, as we're trying a grow box this year.

You made me realize I'll need more height than I planned!

 

[ChaosMom]

I built a nice grazing frame for my chicken run. It is 3X12 feet long. It has 1/2 inch hardware cloth on top of a 2X4 frame. I was all excited that I would be growing some green grass in the chicken run that the chickens could eat but could not dig up or pull out. The first year, two years ago, my grass did not grow well because the chickens scratched so much dirt and other debris on the top screen. That pretty much blocked out the sun and the grass stopped growing. It was a failure. Strike one.

Last year, I added another 2X6 frame underneath the original, raising the top of the grazing frame to about 7 or 8 inches above ground level. I planted some mixed yard grass seeds in it, and the grass grew early in the summer, but stopped around mid-summer. Maybe we did not get enough rain, or the grass was just not hardy enough. In any case, I consider last year a failure as well. Strike two.

I was out in the chicken run this afternoon cleaning up things and taking out some scrap trees that started growing in the run. The grazing frame is mostly covered with dirt and debris right now, but I took a picture of it for this post...

View attachment 4107738

Again, this is a 3X12 foot grazing frame and right now, it's mostly covered with dirt and debris. I plan on cleaning off the screen and removing the soil around the frame so that it sits about 7-8 inches higher than the ground level. That should help keep the chickens from scratching debris on top of the wire.

Assuming I get all that done, I am now asking for some suggestions as to what seeds to plant in the grazing frame this year. I live in northern Minnesota. My chicken run does not get water unless it rains. I have not had much luck planting my regular lawn grass seeds in the grazing frame. Can anyone suggest other grass seed or grains that would grow good in the grazing frame? This is my third year, and if I cannot have some success with my grazing frame, I am going to take it out and move on to something else.

Any suggestions appreciated in advance.

What about a summer cover crop? I can buy a garden sized pack at my local seed company. These aren’t designed for poultry, so you’d want to check the list of contents:

Sow True Seeds summer cover crop mix

Sow True Seeds raised bed cover crop mix

They also sell individual seeds like oats, Sunn hemp, clover, etc.

 

[gtaus]

How about clover? Once it's established, it needs less water than grass. Can you "help" it get going by watering it, if needed, for the first few weeks?

I had not thought about clover. I'll have to see if it grows taller than 7 inches to reach the top of the grazing frame. I can run a water hose out to the chicken run for the first weeks if that is what is needed to get it growing. Last year, the grass in the grazing frame started off well in the spring but died off mid-summer.

 

[ChaosMom]

I had not thought about clover. I'll have to see if it grows taller than 7 inches to reach the top of the grazing frame. I can run a water hose out to the chicken run for the first weeks if that is what is needed to get it growing. Last year, the grass in the grazing frame started off well in the spring but died off mid-summer.

How big of a gap did you have between soil level and HWC? Curious about how much of the above-ground plant must be protected, while allowing flower stalks (as with clover) to be above the 1/4 1/2”mesh.

Edit: thx to gtaus for the catch!

 

[gtaus]

Watching this thread, as we're trying a grow box this year.

You made me realize I'll need more height than I planned!

Learn from my experience. I thought a 2X4 frame for the hardware cloth would be more than enough height to keep off all that debris that the chickens scratch up in the chicken run. But it was covered in no time that first year. I added another 2X4 or 2X6 frame under the original and now it sits about 7-8 inches above ground level. That worked well for me last year.

FYI, we are just coming off a long winter. I'll have to clean off all that debris on the screen and then dig out all that finished compost that is around the grazing frame. I don't know if you could see it in that picture, but that finished compost is also as fine as dust. When I put that stuff through my cement mixer compost sifter, I suspect it will ~95% or more ready to use. Very little of that stuff will be screened out for more composting.

But yeah, I was surprised that first year how fast the chickens would scratch and kick up debris on the grazing frame. In my chicken yard, I certainly needed more height on the frame.

 

[gtaus]

How big of a gap did you have between soil level and HWC? Curious about how much of the above-ground plant must be protected, while allowing flower stalks (as with clover) to be above the 1/4” mesh.

The first year I planted seed at ground level, so the gap was 3-1/2 inches for the height of the 2X4. I did not have a problem with the chickens pulling out the grass, rather they just covered the top of the screen with debris and everything died out.

Last year, I added another frame under the original grazing frame, raising it to somewhere 7-8 inches tall. My grass seed and blades initially grew up and over the top of the screen early in the year. I thought that was the solution, but like I said, the grass died out mid-summer. I think I need a more hardy grass or grain growing in the frame.

I used 1/2" hardware cloth. I don't know for sure, but I think that is better than the smaller 1/4" hardware cloth. You want the blades of the plant to grow up and through that hardware cloth. I can see everything getting matted underneath a 1/4" mesh and maybe not poking through like you want. The grass, or whatever, needs to poke up and through that wire so the chickens can eat off the tops of the blades.

 

[gtaus]

What about a summer cover crop? I can buy a garden sized pack at my local seed company. These aren’t designed for poultry, so you’d want to check the list of contents:

Sow True Seeds summer cover crop mix

Sow True Seeds raised bed cover crop mix

They also sell individual seeds like oats, Sunn hemp, clover, etc.

I'll look into those options. Thank you. Our local seed company went out of business so now my options are reduced to what is sold in the big box stores.

 

[ChaosMom]

The first year I planted seed at ground level, so the gap was 3-1/2 inches for the height of the 2X4. I did not have a problem with the chickens pulling out the grass, rather they just covered the top of the screen with debris and everything died out.

Last year, I added another frame under the original grazing frame, raising it to somewhere 7-8 inches tall. My grass seed and blades initially grew up and over the top of the screen early in the year. I thought that was the solution, but like I said, the grass died out mid-summer. I think I need a more hardy grass or grain growing in the frame.

I used 1/2" hardware cloth. I don't know for sure, but I think that is better than the smaller 1/4" hardware cloth. You want the blades of the plant to grow up and through that hardware cloth. I can see everything getting matted underneath a 1/4" mesh and maybe not poking through like you want. The grass, or whatever, needs to poke up and through that wire so the chickens can eat off the tops of the blades.

Whoops, you’re right! I meant 1/2”, thank you. Editing now.