Pastured Pullets in the Chicken Tractor

Chickens, believe it or not are omnivores.  That means they'll eat plants AND animals.  In fact, a chicken will eat almost any old thing.  I have seen them eat grass, herbs, leaves, worms, bugs, insects, frogs, snakes and even small mice.  If you throw the heads and shells out in the pasture after a crawfish boil, they'll eat those too!  Odd thing is, their eggs will be bright orange-red the day after eating them.  We call them crawfish eggs.  They don't taste any different, though. 

Let's check in on the pullets in the chicken tractor.  I wanted to show you a before/after shot to show how they  mow down the grass like a lawn mower, so you can see the difference.  I move the chicken tractor one length every day to allow them fresh grass to eat on.  Below you can see how tall the grass is in front of the tractor.  I get behind the tractor and push it forward.  Tonight and today, they'll be eating on that tall grass you see.


Grass in front of the chicken tractor - today's buffet

 In this photo, you're seeing the "after" shot.  You see how much they've eaten down the tall grass?  Those girls tear that grass up.  There's not a seed left and there is not much grass left at all.  Old Red, the rooster, is looking hard for something that they've left for him to eat, but he's outta luck.  Reminds me of when you get some mixed nuts and put them out.  It doesn't take long before someone comes along and picks out all of the cashews.  Laura does sort of the same thing.  She'll pick all the M&M's out of the trail mix.  I feel your pain, Old Red!


Grass behind the chicken tractor

Here is a peek in at the 31 little girls.  The best we can figure, we'll see the first eggs around Thanksgiving time.  We can't wait.  The older girls are slowing down on their egg production.  They always do this time of year.  In fact, we had a note on the back door today when we got home from a customer saying, "I need eggs!" 


Beautiful Barred Rock Pullets

 Every day as I walk from the house across the pasture to feed/water the chickens, I always look around for weeds that I don't want in the pasture.  I like to have a good mix of grasses that the cows and chickens can eat.  It is good to have diversity in your pasture grasses.  Then they are able to eat free choice.  Sort of like you and I do at a salad bar.  We'll have a little bit of romaine, a little green leaf, maybe some spinach...  Here, however, is something you don't want in a pasture with milk cows in it - Bitterweed!  If your cows eat this weed it will give the milk a bitter taste.  You don't want that!

A bitterweed plant coming up in the pasture

 So-o-o-o-o, I'm constantly searching for bitterweeds to pull up.  I make real sure to pull them up by the roots and lay them out where the sun will dry it and kill it.  If you trace the stem below, you can see I've got the whole plant root and all.  If you don't get it by the roots, it will sprout back up in no time. 


Getting to the root of the problem

 By doing this every day or so you can keep your pasture and fence row clear of troublesome weeds.  If you let it get away from you, it can be next to impossible to keep a pasture clean.  But inch by inch, it's a cinch!