Destroying my lawn

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

True Dat!!

They definitely eat more and poop bigger after onset of lay....no more cute little pullet poops!

X2

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I don’t leave mine out for too long. They haven’t torn up much grass but they have decimated other plants. It’s what chickens do.

 

[Leeab]

Have had my chickens around 9 months. One began laying 10 weeks ago and two around 10 days ago. Two will hopefully begin laying in around one month.
The pullets are free ranging in an area approximately 90x45 feet.
Feed, all flock, is always available.
They have an area to dust bath.

Around ten days ago the pullets began tearing up the lawn, the lawn is now looking like Swiss cheese.

Is this behavior related to them laying eggs and needing more protein ? If so are they digging to get to worms, etc.
Will giving them more protein stop them from digging up the lawn ?

They will bath any where they please. I hose them to keep that area moist them out.. they get in everything if not fenced..

 

[bluefreeze]

Just like any animal, it does what is in it's nature. We have 6+ acres surrounded by pastures and a cornfield. I have had up to 15 Chickens that graze everywhere. They find the dirt, it then becomes their dirt bath. They love it when I mow, they follow around and eat the fresh clippings, our lawn is beautiful. They don't dig in the yard, but any work being done gets them excited and they will be right in the mess digging around, so any landscaping work HAS to be protected until it is established. As someone said here, anything you need preserved must be protected. They come in the garage as soon as I open the door, they eat the cat food, jump on the work bench, you name it. So we leave things closed. When my husband planted his garden, he was dismayed to see all the seed onions he planted so carefully were all pulled up right down the line, not eaten, just all laying along the line! So, the garden is fenced now. The GOOD they do for our home and yard far outweighs the bad tho, so have em or don't, but really the more room they have, the less damage they do.