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

[Raen]

Getting the hens today! (pictures to follow!)

It's no big deal if they jump the fence, we're in a very rural area.

It's been interesting hearing the variety of opinions on this subject, from "it'll be great" to "dust bowl." I'll report back to this thread at the end of the summer and say who was right! I personally don't see how they could reduce this crazy-thick, fast growing grass down to nothing, but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks for the answers, all!

 

[trunkman]

I've had 13 chickens foraging in my 1/3 acre back yard since Jan. of this year and what I've found is that they love the veggie garden. They love tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, squash, you get the picture, don't plan on having a nice veggie garden with chickens that are allowed to free range, but as for the grass, I think you can have more than 20 and they still won't eat all that grass, but you will have craters!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
If you fence the garden in you will not have as many problems. My fence that I just put up around my garden is 4 ft tall and very rarely do they get in there.

 

[kerriliane]

My chickens have an area that big (about 400sq ft), and the only place theres no grass.. is around the food and water dishes.. and I have 35 chickens.

 

[Raen]

They're here! They're here!

 

[abhaya]

that big an area you should be ok.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I have 19 chickens in a 40' x 16' net covered run and we've had grass all summer long. It got tall enough that we debated giving it a mowing (didn't). There are holes all around the perimeter of the run where they dust bathe.

My concern with letting the chickens out into the yard would be the hawks that like to come visit our yard. I have pics of one on the ground just a few feet from the run. I think he was trying to figure out how he could get inside and get a meal.

 

[pcord]

My prediction is you'll be fine especially if you give them table scraps. My hens don't really eat too much grass.

 

[gordonburrito]

I have 6 chickens and a yard slightly bigger than that and they did not turn it into a moon scape. In fact I still have to mow

. The main problem (you will see) is that chickens tend to pick on certain portions of the lawn. Mainly in areas they feel the most comfortable or that sport clover or grass types they particularly like. My guess is the grass will be longest in the center of the yard if your chickens are conscious of flying predators. The fence may or may not be okay. I think the fact that you got them when they were mostly grown could present a problem. They have no preconceived notions as to where they can and can't go. Definitely clip their wings right away...that should help.... and pray some of them are homebodies or hefty prisoner of gravity type girls. My birds like to stay together so the less athletic ones limit their range to some extent.

 

[Raen]

Anyone curious how this turned out?

Chicken math set in, and we've currently got 9 chickens in the yard. We also had 4 goats in the same area all summer. The yard still needs to be mowed:

We do have a couple of bare spots around the coop, but nothing crazy, and none of the animals has ever escaped the fencing (we did not clip wings). We did decide, eventually, not to keep goats, though. I'm thinking pony...