Compost poop for fertilizer but what about grass?

[fmernyer]

I just bought my chicks today so I'm getting way ahead of myself but I was reading that I ought to compost the poop first instead of adding it directly to my garden...but I'm thinking of building a chicken tractor to house them...what about my grass? Its not doing so great in the first place so won't them pooping in one place for a day burn my grass?

 

[StephanieH]

If you move it daily, depending on number of chickens and space, it should actually build up your grass. The trick is figuring out the magical formula of time, space, and droppings. Hopefully someone can make some suggestions. A lot of folks use tractors specifically to build up land. Where a lot of folks go wrong is not moving the tractor enough, which is bad for the chickens and the grass. If you are interested in more compost for your garden, however, you might read up on deep litter instead of a tractor.

 

[fmernyer]

The garden part is lovely but I think I like the tractor because we also have a tick problem. I'd love to let them free range, too, but I think that a tractor would give us more options...unless I'm getting the whole idea wrong.

But thank you! "Move daily" - got it!!

 

[WI FarmChick]

Hmmmm.... not sure, a person would think that.

But If it is for only one day then, I think It should recover quickly.

I had 40.... 8 week olds in my run (20'x50') for more than a day and the grass seems to be fine, thou I am not to worried about that area as far as being neat and tidy looking.

Hopefully someone else has more experience than I do with chicken tractors and grass will chime in soon.

 

[donrae]

If you move it daily, depending on number of chickens and space, it should actually build up your grass. The trick is figuring out the magical formula of time, space, and droppings. Hopefully someone can make some suggestions. A lot of folks use tractors specifically to build up land. Where a lot of folks go wrong is not moving the tractor enough, which is bad for the chickens and the grass. If you are interested in more compost for your garden, however, you might read up on deep litter instead of a tractor.

That's exactly what I was going to say!

 

[fmernyer]

I'm reading that in small amounts (moving that tractor everyday) its quite lovely! There's a section (okay - a big part) where its shaded and the grass did not do well, I suppose we could use that as the place to go back to if we run out of sections to move it to. I'm on it! Thanks!!

 

[Mrs. K]

chickens are very hard on grass, they like to scratch. and they like to eat it. and they really like to eat the roots. Chicks are not strong enough to cause any damage. But once they get some size on them, a lot of damage can be done in a short amount of time.

Unless you have a very large yard, it is going to have some wear on it. MrsK