Weed killer

[Altairsky]

if chickens destroy greens, it means they're overpopulated. I keep 8 chickens every 1/4 acre and the grass is absolutely fine.
There are gonna be dust bathing holes though here and there. So it's better to have an area that is just soil and dirt where chickens can dust bath. Still not a guarantee they'll never make a new dustbath in the most unconvenient spot.

 

[Perris]

your chickens have access to a forest

no they do not. They live in a rural garden with fields on 2 sides and neighbours' gardens on the other two. And it measures just over ONE acre in total. Trees on the boundaries are old hedge standards or ones I planted since we lived here (about 30 years now). Shrubs in the borders I planted.

 

[CabritaChicks]

no they do not. They live in a rural garden with fields on 2 sides and neighbours' gardens on the other two. And it measures just over ONE acre in total. Trees on the boundaries are old hedge standards or ones I planted since we lived here (about 30 years now). Shrubs in the borders I planted.

Okay- maybe I used the word 'forest' incorrectly, my apologies. They have shrubs, etc. Most backyards are not one acre in urban areas, and I look at photos of coop projects and they dont have bushes/trees, etc- working with a space of 1/4 acre and tough to grow 'soil' so there are less insects near the surface compared to better soil in which grubs/worms are easy to detect especially after a rain. Your lawn also does not seem to be the type chickens prefer to eat- you can tell from the strains.

Expensive grass strains, chicken do eat. Those are the people that use pesticides to control things. Especially when I was visiting in texas- they take it VERY seriously.

As far as chickens destroying greens? mine pluck out the baby papaya trees when they get their first leaves (an inch tall). My chickens are not over populated- acres with only 3 chickens. They just decide to decimate around the coop because it is fun and easy.

 

[dearmeghann]

I found that when we kept them in a small, fenced-in area, the roots would be destroyed, and the grass was almost non-existent after a few days or weeks.

Now, we're letting them free-range our property during the evenings and on weekends, and they've been great! I've planted a variety of fodder and clover, and they seem to love their little dirt patches the most, haha! We moved their coop, and they love where their old run is because it's now full of bugs. Slowly, we're growing grass there, but very slowly! They love to dig.

If you have a smaller fenced-in area, consider moving it around fairly frequently. The places we had them fenced in are growing the BEST grass!

 

[Chicken Heel]

Folks in my little town along the central VA/NC border love them some weed killer and liberally use it on their lawns and a couple more apply it in broad circles around their trees. Then they wonder why their trees don't grow. My yard is full of dandelions, clover, buttercups, etc., and it doesn't bother me in the least. And my many maple, elm, beech, and hickory trees are lush and healthy.

 

[Perris]

fresh chicken poop dropped around the garden as they range is an excellent fertilizer of plants, and source of food for lots of insects and other microlife in the soil. Which then become food for the free ranging chickens, in a positive feedback loop. There are far more benefits than losses.

Your lawn also does not seem to be the type chickens prefer to eat- you can tell from the strains.

You can't tell. Janeka has a man overboard to prove it

 

[FrostRanger]

I've lived here and observed the seasonal growth of so called weeds year to year most of my life. The only ones I genuinely dislike are the ones that pop up for like a month that have thorny seeds which makes walking barefoot a bit of a hassle. Others I genuinely look forward to such as chick weed and the various sorrels. I do wish we had more dandelion though as dandelion is delicious and useful. I was reminded recently while walking home one rainy day about even though I've lived here so long, I still don't know the names of most of the plants which is a shame as not only are they beautiful IMO, but some of them are very useful (there's a small weed called a plantain that works magic on bug bites and blackberry leaves are the absolute best thing for a sore throat). People around here don't really use weed killer on their lawns and I think the area looks more beautiful for it

As for op, if you do choose to use weedkiller make sure it's sprayed nowhere near where they hang out and remember that you can't give them grass clippings or anything from your lawn if you do spray. Generally though the fewer chemicals you use around your animals the less likely you are to run into issues

 

[Chicken Heel]

I've lived here and observed the seasonal growth of so called weeds year to year most of my life. The only ones I genuinely dislike are the ones that pop up for like a month that have thorny seeds which makes walking barefoot a bit of a hassle. Others I genuinely look forward to such as chick weed and the various sorrels. I do wish we had more dandelion though as dandelion is delicious and useful. I was reminded recently while walking home one rainy day about even though I've lived here so long, I still don't know the names of most of the plants which is a shame as not only are they beautiful IMO, but some of them are very useful (there's a small weed called a plantain that works magic on bug bites and blackberry leaves are the absolute best thing for a sore throat). People around here don't really use weed killer on their lawns and I think the area looks more beautiful for it

As for op, if you do choose to use weedkiller make sure it's sprayed nowhere near where they hang out and remember that you can't give them grass clippings or anything from your lawn if you do spray. Generally though the fewer chemicals you use around your animals the less likely you are to run into issues

I'm going to try that plantain suggestion regarding the treatment of bug bites as I have a lot of that in my yard as well. My turkeys love to eat plantain leaves.

 

[Perris]

I still don't know the names of most of the plants which is a shame as not only are they beautiful IMO, but some of them are very useful

perhaps there is something like this for your part of the world?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Wildflowers-Rosamond-Richardson/dp/1909881929
it contains info on uses as dyes etc., as well as herbal remedies and culinary uses, of over 70 'weeds'. Nicely illustrated too.

 

[Perris]

further to the last, this might be useful for those in or near Virginia at least
https://wildfoods4wildlife.com/