Chickens destroying my yard

[ameliadanielle]

My backyard is 1/3 of an acre. I've had as many as 65 chickens and 18 ducks free ranging the yard together 24/7. I think I'm going to have to buy a goat. Where are these chickens you speak of that will eat all my grass? We still have to mow and weedeat. Though now we have cut down to 41 chickens... and working on getting that down further. So I'll have to mow even more often.

 

[Leigti]

My backyard is 1/3 of an acre. I've had as many as 65 chickens and 18 ducks free ranging the yard together 24/7. I think I'm going to have to buy a goat. Where are these chickens you speak of that will eat all my grass? We still have to mow and weedeat. Though now we have cut down to 41 chickens... and working on getting that down further. So I'll have to mow even more often.

still take down the grass and weeds pretty well if you can find them to one area. Just put up some temporary fencing and let them be in one area for a week or so then move the fence. After a while you'll have your whole yard mowed down.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My backyard is 1/3 of an acre. I've had as many as 65 chickens and 18 ducks free ranging the yard together 24/7. I think I'm going to have to buy a goat. Where are these chickens you speak of that will eat all my grass? We still have to mow and weedeat. Though now we have cut down to 41 chickens... and working on getting that down further. So I'll have to mow even more often.

My neighbor across the street has a backyard that is .33 acres. If he had 65 chickens in his backyard, he'd be standing on dirt.

...I'd love to see 65 chickens on 1/3 of an acre for a year, and there being any grass.

 

[Ximena]

If I fed the chooks lots of alfalfa, sprouts, ect would that help with the grass destruction or will they always go for the grass? This yard doesn't need to be perfect but I don't want them to kill everything

 

[MeepBeep]

...I'd love to see 65 chickens {and 18 ducks} on 1/3 of an acre for a year, and there being any grass.

X2

 

[Rock Home Isle]

If I fed the chooks lots of alfalfa, sprouts, ect would that help with the grass destruction or will they always go for the grass? This yard doesn't need to be perfect but I don't want them to kill everything

The damage to the yard will be done in the winter, when the grass is dormant and in the spring as it starts to grow in.

 

[MeepBeep]

If I fed the chooks lots of alfalfa, sprouts, ect would that help with the grass destruction or will they always go for the grass? This yard doesn't need to be perfect but I don't want them to kill everything

The damage to the yard will be done in the winter, when the grass is dormant and in the spring as it starts to grow in.

What was said above...

During prime summer growing season the grass can withstand a ton more abuse, and will be much more resistant... During spring, fall and winter it simply can't recover as fast and it's during those times that the grass and lawn will sustain permanent damage and be unable to recover...

This is why many people don't let 'grazing' animals into the pastures until the grass is well established in the late spring... I do it myself, my llamas and goats get locked in the barn once the snow starts melting (February/March) and are kept in the barn until the pastures gets to about 8-10" tall with new spring growth before they are allow to graze, I also take into consideration the amount of rain fall as soggy wet ground with animals tramping it can be very harmful as well... Then come about October they are again locked in the barn until the snow covers the ground to protect it... This prevents the animals from turning the pastures into mud pits and gives the grass a fighting chances to come back, but even then I over seed the pasture every spring as soon as the snow melts to give it a boost...

Doing this allows my pastures to fully maintain my animals from about April to October with no sentimental feed and no bare patches of mud...

Even if you don't get snow, the growth rate of the plants drastically slows during the winter months as does it's ability to recover...

 

[Rock Home Isle]

What was said above...

During prime summer growing season the grass can withstand a ton more abuse, and will be much more resistant... During spring, fall and winter it simply can't recover as fast and it's during those times that the grass and lawn will sustain permanent damage and be unable to recover...

This is why many people don't let 'grazing' animals into the pastures until the grass is well established in the late spring... I do it myself, my llamas and goats get locked in the barn once the snow starts melting (February/March) and are kept in the barn until the pastures gets to about 8-10" tall with new spring growth before they are allow to graze, I also take into consideration the amount of rain fall as soggy wet ground with animals tramping it can be very harmful as well... Then come about October they are again locked in the barn until the snow covers the ground to protect it... This prevents the animals from turning the pastures into mud pits and gives the grass a fighting chances to come back, but even then I over seed the pasture every spring as soon as the snow melts to give it a boost...

Doing this allows my pastures to fully maintain my animals from about April to October with no sentimental feed and no bare patches of mud...

Even if you don't get snow, the growth rate of the plants drastically slows during the winter months as does it's ability to recover...

Sound pasture management....great advice

 

[Flock In Texas]

Yeah, but that can tear up their feet as they will still try to scratch........and hardware cloth plugged up with poop is not fun to clean.

I'm in the process of building my tractor. As a newbie, what should I use for the floor. The tractor will be in a fenced 1/2 acre back yard. I have 4 dogs, but they don't dig much and I'll be moving the tractor every couple of days. With the dogs, I shouldn't have to worry about skunks, raccoons, possum, etc.... My main concern would be snakes or maybe my dogs. Should I skip the flooring altogether? I installed the wheels so that the base is 1 1/2" above flat ground in my garage. The yard won't be perfectly level and there will be grass. I could put a heavier gauge floor and let it sag so that it rest's on the ground. The openings would be bigger and the chickens could scratch. I could run an electric wire around the base. I have a solar powered unit that used to be on my fence that would work well for the dogs. I'll start a thread about this later, but I thought I might get your opinion on the subject. Thanks, Donald

 

[Intheswamp]

I wouldn't put anything on the bottom but would attach aprons around the outside perimeter along with stringing your electric fence around it.

Best wishes,
Ed

ETA: I would use 2x4 welded wire backed with 1/2" hardware cloth for the sides and top. For the aprons I would only use the 2x4 welded wire.