Weed killer, fertilizer & chickens (lawn, crabgrass, Fruit Trees, front yard)

[JanuaryGirl]

Our neighbors have a couple chickens that are basically free-range in the neighborhood... they spend a lot of time in our front yard. Normally we don't use any fertilizer or weed killer, but the crab grass has taken over our yard. We are hoping to use a crabgrass killer and then overseed & fertilize.

Does anyone know how long the chickens would need to stay off the grass after using something like Ortho's Weed & Crabgrass Control? And, is lawn fertilizer (or the seed patch stuff with fertilizer in it) poison to them as well?

I called Scott's and they don't have any data regarding the crab grass killer and grazing animals. If anyone has any experience or advice, I'd appreciate it! Hoping to at least figure out how long I'd have to ask them to keep the chickens contained.

[fisheye]

Perhaps you might be interested in reading this: http://www.garden-counselor-lawn-care.com/vinegar-weed-killer.html
They do say that using the 5% acetic acid vinegar you might need more than one application on your crabgrass. At least the vinegar would be safe to your neighbor’s chickens.

We have ducks and I worry about them when I spray our fruit trees and fertilize the trees with 10-10-10. So far my efforts have not helped control my ducks - they keep multiplying! I don’t know if the same could be said about chickens?

[JanuaryGirl]

We actually use the vinegar solution for a lot of weed growth around our driveway/walkways. Unfortunately, this time we really either need to use something heavy duty to kill all the crabgrass in the lawn or dig up the whole yard and re-seed (we'd rather avoid the latter).

The crab grass has been bad since we moved in, and we just kind of ignored it... at this point the yard is about 50% weed. It's really bad, even by my extraordinarily low yard standards.

I think the neighbors can keep the chickens contained for awhile, but I've heard everything from "till the weed killer dries" to "several months".

[lifelongMOgal]

Is there any reason to not just dig up the yard and re-seed completely? If you decide to reseed you'll want your neighbor to keep the chickens off until your new lawn has taken root completely, at least a few weeks.

[Va-Cat]

Originally Posted by JanuaryGirl

We actually use the vinegar solution for a lot of weed growth around our driveway/walkways. Unfortunately, this time we really either need to use something heavy duty to kill all the crabgrass in the lawn or dig up the whole yard and re-seed (we'd rather avoid the latter).

The crab grass has been bad since we moved in, and we just kind of ignored it... at this point the yard is about 50% weed. It's really bad, even by my extraordinarily low yard standards.

I think the neighbors can keep the chickens contained for awhile, but I've heard everything from "till the weed killer dries" to "several months".

I have to admit, I don't know about chickens but with dogs it is till it is dry. Even though thats the rule, I always wait until its dry and then after it rains or is watered (then dried) to be sure its safe. Is there any way you could use that orange construction fencing and do half the yard (fenced off) and then the other? That way you could be safe for the chickens and still get the job done in a reasonable time.