How much is enough?

[MaureenHall]

There's gonna be an awful lot of lawnmowers for sale this year. I don't think I'm ever going to have grass again.

I was thinking about putting the girls on the front garden but the grass is so long there it'd choke them

[Glutton4...]

It wouldn't be that way for long Auntie Mo, and your yolks will be lovely and gold Go on treat 'em.

[Flummery]

Long grass isn't good - they can get it compacted in the crop. HOWEVER, if you mow it and chuck the mowings in - I think they'd fall on it!

[-pat m]

Long grass isn't good - they can get it compacted in the crop. HOWEVER, if you mow it and chuck the mowings in - I think they'd fall on it!

My neighbour collects her cuttings and I throw them on the shavings in the hen house - last summer they would spend hours turning over the shavings- it made my weekend skip out much easier!

Regards
Pat

[Glutton4...]

Long grass isn't good - they can get it compacted in the crop. HOWEVER, if you mow it and chuck the mowings in - I think they'd fall on it!

Blimey! How long is your lawn?

[MaureenHall]

Blimey! How long is your lawn?

Far too long I don't think I've mowed it since last September, so it's about 6"

[Glutton4...]

Far too long I don't think I've mowed it since last September, so it's about 6"

Yikes! Ours has just started growing, so I'm going to move the leccy fence to a new patch for the 'Laydees' benefit before my Dad decides to mow it

Perhaps you should get some Sheep Aunty Mo!

[MaureenHall]

Yep, sheep, goats, a couple of cows and a horse should do it

[Hilary B]

Yep, sheep, goats, a couple of cows and a horse should do it

Goats will eat grass, but they prefer roses, vegetables and fruit trees. If bored they will eat rhododendron (which is poisonous, it took me 3 days careful nursing to cure my goats when they got out and raided next-door's rhodos). They also have the Houdini gene..... You might try a couple of alpacas. They seem to have some for sale around here, and they look sweet and cuddly.....

[Flummery]

I mowed mine already. Well, technically I haven't got any grass left at all. (Cunning Plan comes to fruition!) I do mow the bit of grass beyond my front wall though. It's only about 3m by 2m - a soot of wide-ish bit of verge. Most people round here garden this bit of ground. Otherwise it gets mown about once a month by the council - and spoils the look of your garden. It was easily as long as Maureen's 6" when I did it. I was thinking as I gave it the first cut, that I hoped to find a good use for the mowings in a few weeks time!

[raine]

Sorry- still a bit worried about the amount of feed! The 4oz each is gone by late lunch! I've changed the bowls so I know it's not being spilt. Should i assume that they are scratching it out or should I give them a bit more? They act like they are starving - oh and I don't know if this makes any difference but they're ex-batts and I've had them for 2 weeks now.

[frias]

In the battery cages they are used to eating all day as there's nothing else for them to do. Are you still feeding layers mash or pellets? The mash is what they are used to but is very powdery and they need to eat it all day to fill up. Mine are now on pellets but I still leave enough food down so there is always some left at night. I don't think chickens over eat on their own food, only on treats like corn which makes them fat.

[HayleyB]

You don't want a horse Aunty Mo they only eat the best stuff I can't give my girls grass cuttings as there's mega amounts of dog poo in it eeeeeyyyyuuuk.

Anyway re; Food, I give enough layers pellets for them to eat all day if they like, although they'd rather scrabble around the yard and stables looking for 'treats'.

[frias]

Anyway re; Food, I give enough layers pellets for them to eat all day if they like, although they'd rather scrabble around the yard and stables looking for 'treats'.

That's exactly how my ex-batts are now. Would rather be scratching around for their own titbits. The pellets are always there for them though if they want them.

[MaureenHall]

I think they'll adjust their food intake themselves once they're on pellets and are able to scrabble around and scratch up worms and grubs. I'd put out as much as they can eat but don't go too mad on the treats. Oh yes, give them plenty of greens to fill up on as well