I'm pretty sure I know the answer to my question, but looking for advice anyway.
I need to grass seed about 1/3 acre on my lot as a result of construction. My yard is currently pure mud. Grass seed is very expensive and I'm pretty sure my chickens will eat every spec of it I lay down.
I have 4 adult chickens and 10 new chicks. I've always let them free range 100% of the time. I'm on a 1 ac lot, surrounded by infinite wheat fields. They spend a lot of time in the wheat before it gets too tall.
Is there anything I can do to hide the seed or deter them in some select areas directly adjacent to my house? Fencing them out isn't really an option. I'm thinking a thick layer of hay over the seed would be easiest, but I think they would find all the seed if I did that. Or getting some dry soil and spreading that over the seed. Or even compost from the landfill. Would they be able to dig through the cover material and eat all my seed? I don't want to go through a bunch of effort to cover the seed up if they'll still be able to dig it all up. My only other option is to build a run for them and keep them penned up all spring, which I really don't want to do.
I need to grass seed about 1/3 acre on my lot as a result of construction. My yard is currently pure mud. Grass seed is very expensive and I'm pretty sure my chickens will eat every spec of it I lay down.
I have 4 adult chickens and 10 new chicks. I've always let them free range 100% of the time. I'm on a 1 ac lot, surrounded by infinite wheat fields. They spend a lot of time in the wheat before it gets too tall.
Is there anything I can do to hide the seed or deter them in some select areas directly adjacent to my house? Fencing them out isn't really an option. I'm thinking a thick layer of hay over the seed would be easiest, but I think they would find all the seed if I did that. Or getting some dry soil and spreading that over the seed. Or even compost from the landfill. Would they be able to dig through the cover material and eat all my seed? I don't want to go through a bunch of effort to cover the seed up if they'll still be able to dig it all up. My only other option is to build a run for them and keep them penned up all spring, which I really don't want to do.