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Good Morning Workshop Community Friends. I made our girls a Grazing Tray. Quick , easy and safe. I just used PVC pipe, Mesh with small holes and cable ties. Chickens need to graze on greens, whether it’s grass, weeds, lettuce etc. Yes they can destroy the lawn with their scratching when you let them free range. That’s why we extended the chicken run for more room for them to forage, but away from the lawn. They get plenty of greens daily but I wanted to make this so it actually becomes a boredom buster as well!
Materials
Materials for the project
40mm PVC Pipe
Wire Mesh 600 x 900mm - hole 12.7mm
Cable Ties 200mm
Wheat and Barley Seed from the Stockfeeders
Tools
No tools required, easy as
Steps
Step 1
Simply cable tie each piece of pipe to the mesh. I found it easier threading the cable ties on first and then securing them nice and tight. Yes you will need a piece in the middle as the girls can be a bit heavy 😆 😆 I’m happy with the height of it, it is tall enough for the grass to grow through it. You could make it to the size you want.
I didn’t want to use treated timber because of the chemicals and I didn’t want to use untreated timber that would swell when wet, so the PVC is perfect.
Step 2
Ready to place into the Chook Run. Straight onto the ground. I got a couple of bags from the Stockfeeders - Wheat and Barley.
Liberally add the seed. I didn’t even bother to cover with soil, need to, if you want to just cover very lightly.
It’s important to keep the seeds moist, so hand watering every day.
Step 3
And Day 6 the wheat and barley seeds are germinating nicely and the girls can eat it, pecking away the tips of the grass. Now it really becomes a Boredom Buster !!!!!!
Step 4
And there you have a Grazing Tray for your girls 🐓🐓🐓🐓
Once it’s done, I will move around the Run. Just remember that the holes need to be small enough that they can’t eat all the seed and they are happy to walk on.
Backyard Chickens are a wonderful Family friendly addition to your Garden.
That's such a neat project @mich1972! I've never seen something like that before. What a great idea and I'm sure your girls appreciate the entertainment.
Many thanks for sharing.
Mitchell
Afternoon @mich1972
How good is that! I had intended to build one out of a timber frame one day (have 2/3rds of a chook pen done) but had never thoughtof using PVC pipe 
Brilliant! Nice outside the timber thinking
Dave
