Full TGIF Record # 134504
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Web URL(s):http://turf.rutgers.edu/research/abstracts/symposium2008.pdf
    Last checked: 11/05/2015
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Publication Type:
i
Report
Content Type:Abstract or Summary only
Author(s):Heckman, Joseph
Author Affiliation:Extension Specialist, Soil Fertility, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Title:Chicken tractoring on the home turf
Section:Poster presentations
Other records with the "Poster presentations" Section
Meeting Info.:New Brunswick, NJ: January 10-11, 2008
Source:Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Rutgers TurfgrassSymposium. 2008, p. 43.
Publishing Information:New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Turfgrass Science, Cook College, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
# of Pages:1
Keywords:TIC Keywords: Animal manures; Chicken tractoring; Lawn turf; Quality evaluation; Environmental stewardship; Pastures
Abstract/Contents:"The chicken tractor concept is where a flock of birds are confined inside an easily transportable cage that is moved every day over new pasture. It was pioneered and popularized with the publication of Chicken Tractor: The Gardeners's Guide to Happy Hens and Healthy Soil by Andy Lee. The increasing demand for pasture based animal products is spurring innovation by homeowners who are keeping small flocks of chickens on backyard lawns: www.backyardpoultry.com. The main objective of this study was to determine the contribution of a mixed cool season grass and clover turf towards the nutrition of a small flock of layers. Additional objectives were to observe the impacts of the grazing birds and the rotational movement of chicken tractor on turf quality. In May 2007, chicken feed intake was measured daily on four consecutive days while the birds had access to grazing on fresh green turf. In the next four days the chickens did not have access to pasture while they were confined inside a coop on plywood flooring with bedding. Daily feed intake was on average 11% less during the period when the chickens were on pasture as compared to when they were confined to the coop and off of the turf. Results suggest that a health turf can potentially supply chickens with about eleven percent of their nutrition. That nutrition supplied by the grazing of grass and clover leaf tissue likely included some earthworms and insects which chickens were also observed to consume. Chicken tractoring impacts turf quality from bird droppings and from the natural scratching behavior of the birds. Areas of grazed by the chickens became visually greener about two after rotation away from the chicken tractor due to nitrogen supplied by chicken droppings. Based on my experience the chicken tractor should be moved every day or more often over areas of thin turf to prevent chicken scratching from causing bare spots and creating an uneven surface area and shallow holes. Chicken tractoring is another way for urban families to enjoy their backyard lawns while producing fresh eggs for family food security and better nutrition."
Language:English
References:0
Note:This item is an abstract only!
ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Heckman, J. 2008. Chicken tractoring on the home turf. Proc. Annu. Rutgers Turfgrass Symp. p. 43.
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Web URL(s):
http://turf.rutgers.edu/research/abstracts/symposium2008.pdf
    Last checked: 11/05/2015
    Requires: PDF Reader
    Notes: Item is within a single large file
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MSU catalog number: SB 433 .R88
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