Best times to free range and keep your grass green

[Chickenclaude]

In the fall if I fill the tractor w fallen leaves and leave the door open the girls will scratch and reduce those leaves to leaf Mulch inNo time at all. One good day scratching and they are half the volume

 

[jBabychickn]

In the fall if I fill the tractor w fallen leaves and leave the door open the girls will scratch and reduce those leaves to leaf Mulch inNo time at all. One good day scratching and they are half the volume

Omigosh- I believe it!!
They literally have the time of their lives in those leaves ; Don’t they?!! — We grab as many leaves as we can and our neighbors will help us by bringing us their fall leaves well…

We still require Crop Cover seeds to help replace our garden grass

 

[bhawk-23]

Hello! I am struggling with dead grass as well. I have 9 chickens in a fenced and netted 1200+ sq ft free range area and a 100 sq ft run. They killed all the grass in 1 year fortunately some of the more durable native grasses and plants have survived this far.

I just seeded and covered with cloth some native grass and short native prairie plants to see if I can get them to grow. I’ll have to keep up tremendously with the seeding and covering and this seed is expensive.
Are the seeds recommended here a more hardy grass? Would it spread to my native no mow grass I’m trying to grow outside their area? Would I just keep reseeding in the fall and spring? How do you keep the girls from eating all the seeds?
They pace the fence all day trying to get to the only patch of grass in the lawn, because they, with the help of my dogs, killed the rest. I’m currently reseeding and trying to grow in sections. They killed all the grass along their fence line too. I am at a total loss and frustrated.

Although it breaks my heart to see them trying to get out to the area they used to have access to all day every day. I have to have a poop free and grass filled zone for my son to have friends over and us to enjoy. I don’t think they are in too small of an area since it also includes a leaf composting area, firewood storage area, trees to lay under, 2 large dust bathing areas, benches, logs, tables, and tree limbs to sit on or under.

BUT most importantly no more mud and chicken poop filled yard for the dogs to keep bringing in the house!!! It is driving me mad!!!!
Please let me know this can be achieved.

 

[jBabychickn]

Hello! I am struggling with dead grass as well. I have 9 chickens in a fenced and netted 1200+ sq ft free range area and a 100 sq ft run. They killed all the grass in 1 year fortunately some of the more durable native grasses and plants have survived this far.

I just seeded and covered with cloth some native grass and short native prairie plants to see if I can get them to grow. I’ll have to keep up tremendously with the seeding and covering and this seed is expensive.
Are the seeds recommended here a more hardy grass? Would it spread to my native no mow grass I’m trying to grow outside their area? Would I just keep reseeding in the fall and spring? How do you keep the girls from eating all the seeds?
They pace the fence all day trying to get to the only patch of grass in the lawn, because they, with the help of my dogs, killed the rest. I’m currently reseeding and trying to grow in sections. They killed all the grass along their fence line too. I am at a total loss and frustrated.

Although it breaks my heart to see them trying to get out to the area they used to have access to all day every day. I have to have a poop free and grass filled zone for my son to have friends over and us to enjoy. I don’t think they are in too small of an area since it also includes a leaf composting area, firewood storage area, trees to lay under, 2 large dust bathing areas, benches, logs, tables, and tree limbs to sit on or under.

BUT most importantly no more mud and chicken poop filled yard for the dogs to keep bringing in the house!!! It is driving me mad!!!!
Please let me know this can be achieved.

So sorry! — I haven't been active here in about a month due to illness and I just saw your post.

No. I wouldn’t say it’s grass. What I ended up using is really a Clover.
I do highly recommend the seeds i mentioned. And, I do suggest Clover if you're amendable to that. It covers SO easily, grows easily, maintains easily, comes in many varieties, even in different colors if you like to add some color to the yard. I personally like the green miniature Clover that only grows to about 4" high. — I believe we may have had to reseed once in the very beginning but now that it’s taken over we haven’t had to. We also live in Zone 7, in Kentucky, so that’s our climate if that helps…

— I use the Mini Clover in our play area of our yard, we mow the little while flowers down when they bloom in Spring because I like a “green grassy” overall look.
— I use the No Till Cover Mix for the Chickens to forage on inside their fodder boxes or I sprout the seeds for them. I swear by these seeds for fodder for their digestive health, IMO, is amazing.
— They have really Excellent Poopage!! As my Son likes to say…

Also, my girls didn’t really try to get to the seeds thru their fencing when we put up their new area. It definitely seems yours have plenty of space, so they should adjust soon. Perhaps add a new structure to the yard like an inclined climbing perch or new ladder for distraction? Or, take what you have because it sounds like you have plenty and rearrange everything to make their yard fresh and new to them. I do that every few years and they are so funny; i swear they think it’s Christmas with all new toys! - Lol!

Anyway, I think what helped me was I got really lucky with my timing; We put up their fencing and we spaced our BBQ area and Grassy/Clover area while two of my Silkie Mamas hatched babies so they were busy with their babies and my other four girls and my one Roo were also experiencing their first time with new babies around. Big Distraction there! — Definitely a Fun One! Ha!

I don’t have dogs, but I found this Info for you:
Does dog pee ruin clover?
— Clover Is Pet-Friendly
Unlike turf-grass, dog urine does not leave unsightly discolored or brown spots in the lawn.

Wishing you the best of luck!! Let me know how you’re going!
— I will try to post you a photo soon…