Alfalfa is courtesy of google images We knew that our chickens (and eggs) would improve if they ranged on grass. We don't eat the meat but we do eat eggs.
The only problem is that they have just about eaten everything green. Not just all the grass but anything else not protected by a fence. Even the bamboo needed help. What is a promising (if somewhat incompetent) farmer to do.
Something we found said to feed Alfalfa to the chickens. That probably accounts for the alarmed look on his face.
For those of you that don't know him, this young man was Alfalfa who was famous from the "Spanky and Our Gang" films
The only problem is that they have just about eaten everything green. Not just all the grass but anything else not protected by a fence. Even the bamboo needed help. What is a promising (if somewhat incompetent) farmer to do.
Something we found said to feed Alfalfa to the chickens. That probably accounts for the alarmed look on his face.
For those of you that don't know him, this young man was Alfalfa who was famous from the "Spanky and Our Gang" films
As you can see, we do have a few birds. Five acres will hold a lot but this time of year they are looking for greenery and roam far and wide. Right into raccoon and neighborhood dog territory. After reading further we came across a common sense solution. You can buy alfalfa in bales and make the grazing area a safer place.
If you feed Alfalfa to your donkeys, llamas, sheep, goats etc you can wind up with bloated sick animals. Chickens, we were told, would like it. I knew they thought hay was just for nesting in.
If you feed Alfalfa to your donkeys, llamas, sheep, goats etc you can wind up with bloated sick animals. Chickens, we were told, would like it. I knew they thought hay was just for nesting in.
So I went to the feed store, Kem said that she had compressed bales of Alfalfa for about the same price as hay. I brought it home and since it had been raining I put it on the steps to keep it dry. It is about 1/3 as large as a hay bale but just as heavy. Also very green in comparison.
That's when Bob (seen here, on the left with his jobless companion Indy) decided to become conscientious. As head of ranch security he actually is always very conscientious. He barks at night when the Donkeys come too close. He barks when the dogs down the street bark, and he howls when a fire engine goes by. This time he barked when the chickens tried to eat that strange bale of hay his daddy had placed on the steps. After that they wouldn't touch it.
Next, I put it in front of the chicken house and it just set there.
That's when Bob (seen here, on the left with his jobless companion Indy) decided to become conscientious. As head of ranch security he actually is always very conscientious. He barks at night when the Donkeys come too close. He barks when the dogs down the street bark, and he howls when a fire engine goes by. This time he barked when the chickens tried to eat that strange bale of hay his daddy had placed on the steps. After that they wouldn't touch it.
Next, I put it in front of the chicken house and it just set there.
The next day I placed it on a block and surprisingly they still weren't going for it. I suspect that is because Bob was still barking.
I guess if I really wanted to convince someone of something I would now get Bob to do my talking for me. Anyway, I needed to do something.
I guess if I really wanted to convince someone of something I would now get Bob to do my talking for me. Anyway, I needed to do something.
Well the answer was to pull some out of the bale and drop it on the ground. A little interest.
Then I threw grain down and pulled out some more. As the finishing touch I put grain on top of the bale.
Since then Guinea Hens, Chickens, Ducks and wild birds all have been involved with the new miracle plant. You cannot look at the bale without seeing some sort of dinner guest. Hope they don't get tired of it.
Then I threw grain down and pulled out some more. As the finishing touch I put grain on top of the bale.
Since then Guinea Hens, Chickens, Ducks and wild birds all have been involved with the new miracle plant. You cannot look at the bale without seeing some sort of dinner guest. Hope they don't get tired of it.
RSS Feed