5 hens in 1/4 acre pen--how is the grass going to look? *update!*

[Tropical Chook]

If you get goats, all you'll have left is the chickens and the coop. Anything and everything else will be eaten. I once had a beautiful yard, then I got a goat, and it devoured anything it could reach. In fact, I think there was only one plant it stayed away from. Saying that, it did eat grass, but not all that much. Now the goat is gone, and the chickens have wiped out whatever remained of the yard. We also have 1/4 acre and we average about 20 birds at any one time. They do a lot of landscaping but they are not able to eat all the grass, although it not due to a lack of trying

Our monsoon season is over so there won't be any rain now until about May next year, at which point all the grass will spring back into life, and the chickens will be happy once more.

 

[RioLindoAz]

I personally don't think that 5 chickens can uproot all that grass...ever. They will probably just mow the grass as it grows, keeping it at a constant level.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Goats are browsers, not grazers. They will eat grass if there is nothing else, but they would rather eat bushes.

My flock of 7 has turned 1/4 acre into scrubland. The grass is mostly gone. The stemmy weeds are mostly bare sticks. The pine needles and leaves have been rearranged completely.

What I have in abundance is dirt, dust, and poo.

 

[spartacus_63]

I have 52 Birds on 2 acres and they have not cut down on my mowing one bit. I think you will be fine. The grass is going to get a lot more nitrogen then it needs. Keep an eye on it. If you go through a dry spell the grass could get burned from the poop. You can apply lime to counter this and it works pretty well. As mentioned by others you will probably get holes in shady or sunny spots depending on the time of year. Chickens are great excavators. What I have noticed with my girls is not that the pull the grass out by the roots, but when confined in to small of a space, the ground gets compacted so much that the grass will not grow well. Can't comment on the goats, but I wouldn't hold out much hope for the grass.

 

[Raen]

So what ya'll are saying is that I should get a pony instead of goats. I can live with that.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
With a silver-laden saddle and bridle.

 

[teach1rusl]

WITH a goat or two, I couldn't say. But with only a few chickens, I'd put my money on you keeping grass in that area. Now, you'll have a few places rutted up where they'll dig dirt bathing spots, buts that's generally along an edge somewhere. I think you'll be mowing grass next year. Now, if you add a goat, all bets are off...

 

[Morgan7782]

I just read an article that said 4 chickens can clear a 1/4 acre of bugs, and grass in a matter of weeks. I don't have grass in the backyard, it's kinda setup like a garden with pebble paths and stuff. Most of their greens come from leftovers, figs, or the grape vines. Right now it's tough though while all the leaves die and drop. Thank goodness for complete feeds huh?? lol.

I will be attempting to plant grass a few places, specifically for the chickens to enjoy, I spoil haha. But I am doing it pretty confident the grass will be gone in days lol.

That yard is awesome BTW! Same with coop

 

[Rozzie]

You're not going to have to worry about it because they are going to fly over that little low fence whenever their little hearts please. Even clipping wing feathers isn't going to keep them in a fence that low.

 

[Moabite]

I would build a smaller covered, predator resistant run to use when you can't be around to keep an eye out. If your grass seems to be suffering, you could pen the birds for a couple days to give the grass a chance to do what grass does so well, grow.