A slightly different take on the "chickens and grass" topic

[bairo]

Quote:
I had 25 on about 1/2 acre and no damage anywhere except the section with the tall grass I couldn't get in to mow so I threw out the scratch and called in the chicken working party. Now I'll probably never get grass there again because they keep going back there looking for scratch. Do you suppose a couple of months of snow will help them forget?

Now that is funny. I guess its the old "be careful what you wish for"

 

[Spoof]

I actively try to kill my grass every year, scalping it, praying that I don't have to get on the lawnmower and mow again every weekend in the hot and humid. I've had no success and neither have the chickens. The south is scary like that.

 

[SteveBaz]

Check out post #17's Gallo del Cielo Picture.

Look at the metal mesh and part of it grows through and the other part is cut to the top of the metal mesh. I have 5' X 20' space for my 8 girls and they keep it trimmed to the top on a regular basis. The mesh it 2" off the ground so they can not get to the ground and destroy the grasses root system. What I do to supplement the grass so I have greens out there all the time is go to the local super market and made friend with the produce manager Ashley and he gives me a couple gallon baggies 3 X a week and I throw it on top of the mesh to supplement when the grass has not grown back and to just give them and offer them some variety and choices. They love celontro, kale, not much into lettuce but fruits like melon I split in half and by the end of the second day they are down to the rind. During the Halloween time I got as many pumpkins I could get my hands on and boy o boy they went to town. Hope this helps.

 

[platedheart]

i love this coop it is soo cool !wondering if that would work in fl it is also too hot most of the year ...

 

[Xtina]

Yes, that's a fantastic setup and I think I'll be implementing lots of those tricks in my next coop and run. I was already considering some of those things (salad bar, treadle feeder, grape leaves over run, etc.) Very good design.