rooftop chicken treats?

[caithnesscrofter]

finished the turf roof on the chicken house just in time b4 the coming gales. New to chickens so, can anyone suggest some chicken treats to grow on the roof? (besides the worms and insects!)

[Jean]

Have you got a photo of this? It sounds fascinating. Why did you decide to do it?

Treats? Don't know but they seem to love all the seedlings in my garden!

[maggienetball]

I'd love to see a photo too. What a brilliant idea, that should stop the red mites getting in the roof. The grass, worms and insects are a great treat.

Can't think of anything that grows well on grass (apart from weeds). I hang strings of pop corn, corn on the cob and cuttlefish from the branches of the apple tree, just to make them work a little for their treats! They seem to love it. Oh and I thread cornflakes on cotton too! I know....far too much time on my hands!

[marshlander]

cornflakes! you've some pampered chucks there!

our hens are shockers for getting into the lettuce - the narrowest gap in the greenhouse door and they're in!

Are you thinking of something that will grow in amoungst the grass - is grass turf?

[caithnesscrofter]

Had to build it in two sections as its got a vent in the middle of the roof. I decided 2 do it because firstly it is cheap and it is built entirely out of recycled materials, we even reused pallet nails. I used pallet wood in the roof and scrap dpc and cardboard underlay. Secondly cause turf roofs are heavy so less likely that the wind will lift it off. The roof shape is a bit wonky so i filled a few gaps with some topsoil and catmint and lemon balm that needed out of their pots. It then struck me that in the spring i could take the turf off, throw up topsoil inrtead and grow some treats up the top 4 them!

[oldfella]

Hey do you do private work, I need a new hen house here, and that looks a good job.

[ina]

I could do with one, too!

[Beloved]

it's a great idea but how are you going to get the mower up there?

[Wombat]

What about fathen, sunflowers, wheat, thistles, wandering jew.....etc.

Nev

[caithnesscrofter]

my brother-in-law did most of the structure, i only did the roof! But, aye, france sounds nice! Lol. Cheers 4 the tips nev, sunflowers on the roof sounds wild, might give that a go! Do chickens like alfalfa?

[marshlander]

Just had an idea - trailing tomatoes - then you can have some too! - my chooks steal tomatoes from the greenhouse too - if they get half a chance!