Re: Starting a flock of chickens

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Thu, 8 Apr 1999 23:37:59 -0500

When are you getting your chicks? And are they going to end up being egg
layers? How many acres and how many chicks? 400/acre is a decent stocking
density in my area on spring growth. But of course you are going to have
to be a lot lower stocking density on an unestablished pasture unless you
use an annual species such as rape, ryegrass, oats, peas, or berseem
clover. I've never put small chickens on brassica pastures and doubt if it
could be done very successfully but laying hens like rape and gets the
darkest yolks you will have ever seen.

I would stick with mainly ladino clover if you are going to use it for
pasture for a couple of years before using it for garden. I have heard a
lot of good things about berseem clover for annual pastures. Oats,
ryegrass, rape, and clover blend work good in northern Indiana.

Good luck,
Greg Gunthorp

----------
> From: Mark <earthspn@crocker.com>
> To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
> Subject: Starting a flock of chickens
> Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 9:31 AM
>
> OK, down to the grassroots here...
>
> I am going to start a small flock of chickens this year in a spot that
> currently has brambles, goldenrod and other assorted high growing stuff.
I
> want to prep the area and the chix I am getting are good foragers
> (Dominiques). So, what is the best way to prep the spot? Brush hog it
and
> turn it under and cover crop for a couple months? What is a good crop to
> sow to give the birds good forage and improve the soil (eventually for a
> garden)?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
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