I have clumps of ornamental grasses here and there in the yard. I was out in the yard yesterday due to the unseasonably warm weather and I looked at the golden brown clumps of dried grass. A light went off in my head and I realized I was looking at some really nice nesting material, free for the taking!I grabbed my pruners and whacked off huge handfuls of dried grass and tucked them under my arm as I walked to the chicken coop. I cut the bundles into shorter lengths and stuffed them into the nest boxes.
The girls looked and looked at the new nesting material. They seemed genuinely interested but unsure if they should try it out. One brave chickie, Sweetheart, climbed right in and began rearranging the grass to her liking. She clucked happily to herself as she moved the long, curly grass around herself. She's going to make a great broody some day!
Dried grass is very cushiony and springy, much more so than straw. It doesn't packed down like wood shavings either. My girls are hooked and they laid all their eggs in the 4 boxes with the dried grass today! I have to admit, it's really cute to look in the coop and see several chooks in the nest boxes with the curly, dried grass all around them. I'll try to get some pictures soon.
That's a great idea, Amy! I'll have to plant some just so I can use it for that purpose. I hate the way the shavings pack down, too. I usually fluff them up every day.
ReplyDeleteSusan, Why do I feel like I just gave you an excuse to buy ornamental grasses??? I suppose you could use the dried clumps of grass you see growing alongside fields too.
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