Destroying my lawn

[mviera101]

So true... I do love them though! more than my grass !

 

[Ponte]

Chickens dig and scratch. It's part of their nature.

I understand but why is it that that digging and scratching went on hyperdrive after the two began laying two weeks ago ?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Their simply looking for bugs it is what chickens do

 

[Lizzy733]

My run was well planted before my girls came into lay. When the last one started squatting, the greenery quickly disappeared.
Some lawns are more tolerant than others - aggressive weedy grasses can withstand more punishment. It's not impossible for chickens and greenery to coexist, but a carpet of grass is a tall order in close quarters.
How many birds are there foraging that area?
I find having designated digging spots helps - let them turn your gardens for you between plantings and have a mulch corner with a bug hotel. My girls gravitate towards a few choice spots when free ranging as opposed to taking out the entire lawn.
Also, their poops are high in nitrogen. Some grasses are sensitive and the build up of excess can actually harm your lawn, leading to yellowing spots and eventually die-off.

 

[Ribh]

Some breeds are more natural foragers than others. Even with deep litter in coop & pen my Campines will hop the fence to forage through a mulched garden bed. If you want lawn you are going to have to fence your chickens.

 

[bobbi-j]

I understand but why is it that that digging and scratching went on hyperdrive after the two began laying two weeks ago ?

Who knows what goes on in their little chicken brains? Maybe the onset of laying has triggered a different dietary need that has further triggered their hunting and pecking instinct.

 

[ValerieJ]

Did I miss the answer to the oyster shell question? Are they getting OS?

 

[sourland]

Chickens dig and scratch. It's part of their nature.

Fact.

 

[so lucky]

You might try limiting their free range time. My girls, if given too much time out, will just end up perching under the deck on the lawn mower and wheel barrow. If they were out all day long, not only would the lawn be decimated, but the poop would be shin deep around the lawn mower.

 

[Ponte]

Are they getting OS?

Yes