Chicken tractor/spring grass?

[Rdh1223]

Wondering if anyone has some advice, last year I built a 96 sq ft chicken coop/tractor and it was great all last summer, I moved it every 3 or 4 days and the grass while somewhat beat up wasn't to bad and recovered fairly quickly. There are 6 hens in the tractor.

I moved the tractor to a spot I didn't care about last November and left it stationary until last weekend. The 8 x 12 area is bare but that was expected.

Problem is they have been tearing the grass out down to bare earth in 1-2 days so I've been moving it more frequently but I don't really expect the area to recover without re seeding. I guess my question is why is this happening? They were all still growing last summer. Did I move the tractor to early? Its rained here pretty consistently all week. I'd hate to make it a stationary coop/run permanently.

Thanks for any insight/advice

 

[StinkyAcres]

I wonder if it's because the new spring grass shoots are more susceptible to damage than last summer's grass.

 

[Penpal]

Their feet are bigger and can do more damage. There may also be tasty things in the ground that they are digging out. They may also be trying to create a bath area.