Every year we hear and read of “well meaning” neighbors that have gathered their freshly mowed grass clippings to share with the animals in the neighboring pasture – totally unaware of the harm, havoc and homicide they might be committing. Not all animals are created equally and not all animals digest fresh grass clippings equally. So, the big question to ponder – can freshly cut grass clippings be fed?
YES …
to chickens – Freshly snipped, clean grass cuttings can be fed to your flock. Giving your hens the odd handful of freshly snipped grass that you’ve cut yourself that morning is a lovely treat for your hens, and quite recently has proved very good for their welfare and overall health.
to cattle – Freshly-mowed grass clippings, as well as fully fermented clippings can be safely consumed as long as they do so within 8 hours of the mowing.
Yes, IF …
to goats and/or sheep – if freshly mowed, grass clippings can be fed in small amounts or if you have allowed the clippings to dry completely. Make sure to never feed partly dried clippings, and avoid offering them as a food source unless your goats and/or sheep are used to pasture grass already.
NO! …
NEVER feed horses lawn mower clippings, it can be very dangerous. Just consider the source of the grass clippings. Most decorative lawn areas are mowed – the areas you mow are likely the areas you would treat with chemicals to reduce weeds, encourage growth and create greenness. So, when a horse eats lawn mower clippings, they may also eat plants (and chemicals) that they would otherwise avoid but because they have been chopped up with other more palatable plants, the horse cannot detect them.
When lawn mower clippings are fresh they are fermenting (this is why they are warm or even hot when you put your hand inside a fresh pile of clippings) causing a lethal build-up of gasses within the horse’s gut. Having a weak moment and giving your horse a pile of grass clippings is asking for digestive problems which can lead to diarrhea, colic, laminitis and usually death.
DO NOT FEED HORSES GRASS CLIPPINGS!