Lawn mower clipping

Vennables · **Joined:** Fri Jul 05, 2013 4:34 am **Posts:** 3

Do you use the lawn mower clipping for the chickens egg boxes if the clippings are green or dried :?:

or no difference :?:

Thanks in advance

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hi Vennables [smilie=welcome.gif]

I give my girls lawn clippings to eat, but not for their nesting boxes as the clippings break down really, really fast once the chlorophyll has started to dissipate in the grass.

I use either sugar cane mulch or wood shavings as their nesting box material. I have seen some people use hay as well. :-D

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Sugar cane mulch, non toxic pet grade wood shavings, straw, hay, Lucerne especially as the chookies like to nibble on it for nesting boxes, some people even use shell grit.

If you are going to use lawn mower clippings for the nesting box dry them out first.

I also add dried lavender and dried wormwood in the nesting box, as they are said to help control parasites and have heard that food grade peppermint oil will deter mice.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

like Chicka-Dee and Petite Pullet said

adding = if you feed your chooks lawn clippings introduce it in very small amounts increasing the amount daily over a 2 weeks period = they are greedy buggers and will gobble the lot up in one go - this rarely but sometimes causes an impacted crop = requiring invasive intervention
there are posts on impacted crop - so if interested do a search

originbreed · **Posted:** Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:18 pm

something you must be careful with lawn clippings is what type of mower has been used to produce them.
mowers with exhausts that are positioned under the mower will leave an oil residue on the grass clippings.
2 stroke mowers have extra oily fumes as the fuel has oil mixed in it.
this can cause severe colic in horses and is not healthy for chooks.

Vennables · **Joined:** Fri Jul 05, 2013 4:34 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks everyone I ended up with hay and used the clippings on the garden. Thanks for setting me on the right path

LangshanJason · **Joined:** Fri Jul 12, 2013 2:37 pm **Posts:** 4

I let my langs scratch through the clipping but not in the coop as its goes slimy as its starts to break down and grows fungus which is not good for them

Vennables · **Joined:** Fri Jul 05, 2013 4:34 am **Posts:** 3

I spread it on the gardens so they can go and have a scratch through there

RumorHens · **Joined:** Sun Jul 14, 2013 8:52 am **Posts:** 3

I also use them on the garden and let the chooks spread it for me works a treat every time and they have a ball doing it

P_Edwards · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:50 am **Posts:** 71403

Sounds like you have the gardener chook breed :lol:

I wish mine were

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