This year I managed to implement a pretty good schedule for keeping a plot of forage growing all season to feed to the chickens (broilers & hens) and to the ducks (Muscovies for meat).
The plantings include: abruzzi rye, crimson clover, rape, browntop millet, and chicory.
Feeding Greens
We feed greens to the chickens and ducks every evening. We have a 5 gallon bucket hung in the chickens' coop with four 4" holes drilled in the sides at the bottom. We fill this bucket with greens every evening. We feed greens to the ducks in a similar manner, or in feed pans with a little grain on top of the greens.
Rye is planted in the fall. This year I'll plant two plots of rye. The first plot is up already. I'll plant the second plot in a couple weeks. The first plot should provide some greens yet this fall and through the winter, providing greens early next year. The second plot will come up this fall, but not put on much growth until early next year when it will provide greens after the first batch of rye has started to set seed. That's the plan anyway. Last fall I only planted one plot of rye late in November.
When the rye starts to put on growth, we cut buckets of the tender grass to feed to the poultry. We continue feeding this way until after the rye has set seed and the leaves start to fade. We use a pair of lawn shears from Wal-Mart. We've found that if we cut the grass up into shorter lengths, the birds will eat more of it, especially once it has set seed. When we cut plants to feed, we always cut high enough that some leaves are left. This keeps a cover crop in place, and usually allows the crop to come back to set seed.
Protein content: About 26% (15 to 48% per links below).
15-26%: http://hayandforage.com/silage/other-silage/plant-winter-rye-for-spring-forage-0720/
29-48%: http://outagamie.uwex.edu/files/2010/08/Fall-Grain-Rye-factsheet-3.pdf
Crimson Clover
Crimson clover is also planted in the fall and overwinters, blooming in the spring. I've got one plot that is far enough along that the ducks are foraging on it. The second planting has just come up, but won't provide any forage or cut greens until next spring.
The clover is cut similar to the rye. Crimson clover is very determined to set seed, and will usually do so even after being cut for greens as long as it is not cut too short. If allowed to set seed and mature and drop seed, it is pretty good at volunteering again the following year.
Protein content: 20% or higher; 12-14% even at full bloom stage http://msucares.com/crops/forages/legumes/cool/crimsonclover.html
Rape
Rape is a brassica that is typically planted for forage. It can be planted in late summer, fall, and in late Feb. - mid March. I read about planting rape for poultry in The Dollar Hen by Milo Hastings / Robert Plamondon.
We are still feeding a batch of rape that was planted mid August and will soon start to feed a larger plot that was planted a little later. A third plot will hopefully overwinter, and provide forage and greens early next year.
We cut the rape leaving some leaf structure so
that the plants can come back and keep a cover crop on the plot until tilled under and replanted. Because of it's high protein content, we try to feed rape during as much of the year as possible.
Protein content: 19-20% http://home.limagrain.co.uk/files/28-forage-rape-2009.pdf
Browntop Millet
Millet is a warm season grain. Browntop millet is a shorter millet that sets a lot of seed. Duck hunters often plant it.
We plant succession plots all summer and cut it similar to the rye. The ducks are very good at eating the grain off the stalks even after the stalks have fallen over, or been walked down by the ducks.
Protein content: 11-16% http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hay/r1016w.htm
Chicory
I just planted the first plot of chicory this fall. Chicory is a perennial. So far, the ducks seem to like it. I may overseed parts of the pasture with it.
Protein content: 30% (maybe higher?) http://www.wildlifeseeds.com/whitetail/seeds/chicory-plus.html
I'll update this and add pictures as I get time.
Mac
The plantings include: abruzzi rye, crimson clover, rape, browntop millet, and chicory.
Feeding Greens
We feed greens to the chickens and ducks every evening. We have a 5 gallon bucket hung in the chickens' coop with four 4" holes drilled in the sides at the bottom. We fill this bucket with greens every evening. We feed greens to the ducks in a similar manner, or in feed pans with a little grain on top of the greens.Abruzzi Rye
When the rye starts to put on growth, we cut buckets of the tender grass to feed to the poultry. We continue feeding this way until after the rye has set seed and the leaves start to fade. We use a pair of lawn shears from Wal-Mart. We've found that if we cut the grass up into shorter lengths, the birds will eat more of it, especially once it has set seed. When we cut plants to feed, we always cut high enough that some leaves are left. This keeps a cover crop in place, and usually allows the crop to come back to set seed.
Protein content: About 26% (15 to 48% per links below).
15-26%: http://hayandforage.com/silage/other-silage/plant-winter-rye-for-spring-forage-0720/
29-48%: http://outagamie.uwex.edu/files/2010/08/Fall-Grain-Rye-factsheet-3.pdf
Crimson Clover
Crimson clover is also planted in the fall and overwinters, blooming in the spring. I've got one plot that is far enough along that the ducks are foraging on it. The second planting has just come up, but won't provide any forage or cut greens until next spring.
The clover is cut similar to the rye. Crimson clover is very determined to set seed, and will usually do so even after being cut for greens as long as it is not cut too short. If allowed to set seed and mature and drop seed, it is pretty good at volunteering again the following year.
Protein content: 20% or higher; 12-14% even at full bloom stage http://msucares.com/crops/forages/legumes/cool/crimsonclover.html
Rape
Rape is a brassica that is typically planted for forage. It can be planted in late summer, fall, and in late Feb. - mid March. I read about planting rape for poultry in The Dollar Hen by Milo Hastings / Robert Plamondon.
We are still feeding a batch of rape that was planted mid August and will soon start to feed a larger plot that was planted a little later. A third plot will hopefully overwinter, and provide forage and greens early next year.
We cut the rape leaving some leaf structure so
that the plants can come back and keep a cover crop on the plot until tilled under and replanted. Because of it's high protein content, we try to feed rape during as much of the year as possible.Protein content: 19-20% http://home.limagrain.co.uk/files/28-forage-rape-2009.pdf
Browntop Millet
Millet is a warm season grain. Browntop millet is a shorter millet that sets a lot of seed. Duck hunters often plant it.
We plant succession plots all summer and cut it similar to the rye. The ducks are very good at eating the grain off the stalks even after the stalks have fallen over, or been walked down by the ducks.
Protein content: 11-16% http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hay/r1016w.htm
Chicory
I just planted the first plot of chicory this fall. Chicory is a perennial. So far, the ducks seem to like it. I may overseed parts of the pasture with it.
Protein content: 30% (maybe higher?) http://www.wildlifeseeds.com/whitetail/seeds/chicory-plus.html
I'll update this and add pictures as I get time.
Mac
Thanks for this post. Just found it and you by way of a FB friend. I am wondering, how many chickens do you feed from a 5-gallon bucket?
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