Chicken poop and the lawn - Question

[black_fx_35]

Brand new here, won't receive our first 8 chicks until late July. I do have a question though. I have read that chicken poop makes for a wonderful fertilizer. Have also read that poop should be composted before it is used. I have also read that chickens are great at killing insects, and weeds on the lawn. So, I am thinking my chickens should free range as much as possible in our backyard. Question is: Will their poop burn my lawn (without first being composted)? How do you deal with this? I want them to be able to eat ticks, and other insects in my backyard, and want them to be able to eat all the weeds they can....but, what to do with the poop? Also, I imagine they will also want to eat my grass as well...Should I let them free range in the backyard after all??? Thanks!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

How big is your backyard? Water the lawn a lot...and make sure it's a large space. I wouldn't let them out too much if you have a small yard or you'll have no yard very soon.

 

[Imp]

The poop will NOT burn the lawn. It either gets rained in or mowed up. They will scratch at the lawn and may do damage that way, or dig holes. I do not find that they seek out and eat weeds in the lawn. I do throw scratch in the mossy parts and let them scratch out the moss.

Imp

 

[teach1rusl]

My girls poop all over the place when they're out of the run, and I've never seen any negative affects in my lawn. Now my male dog peeing in his favorite spot is another story...lol.

 

[black_fx_35]

Thanks for the responses. Our backyard is only about 5000-6000 square feet, so not very large. I was planning on putting a fence up around our vegetable garden so the chicks could free range and eat all the insects they want elsewhere, but I may need to rethink this and instead, put a fence up around the coop to create an area where they can free range...decisions decisions....

 

[Imp]

Quote:
My backyard is also about 6000 sf. About 3000 of it is lawn. I have 4 hens and they do minimal damage to the lawn. You could also let them out of the run later in the day. Less time is less damage.

Imp

 

[black_fx_35]

Thanks Imp. I imagine this is what we will do. My wife and I both work full time, so we will probably just let them out for a few hours after we got home at night. Thanks again!

 

[bigstack]

I put 47 chickens in a 30x50 1500 sq ft run with free choice feed and water. In lil less than 2 months the knee high grass is all but gone. There is a lil short lawn left but it is getting thin very quickly! weeds and all! I also feed table scraps. They are lil eating machines and VERY VERY VERY spoiled! They love to sit on my shoulders and in my lap and nap! LOL

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[MareeZoCool]

Little chickens have little poop, so that's no problem for your lawn. It's the 2 & 3 year old birds with the poops the size of golf balls you might want to be cleaning, then add to a compost pile.