Dirt and grass run

[tinamiller1]

I have a question about my ground for my chickens. I have a tractor run that is surrounded by a giant movable pen we bought from Amazon and configured to move it then about 4 feet of space and an electric fence around that for more safety at night. Their giant run and then smaller tractor run that has their hen house is on top of my grass in the backyard. I started taking them out about two weeks ago during the day. They are only 9 weeks today. Their first overnight will be Saturday. This morning I went to take them out and noticed 1 did not completely empty her crop and thought crop block but she was still eating outside and running preening acting normal. I read where them eating grass can cause issues with crop block and now concerned if I should get rid of all the grass and just have it as dirt? I started just today adding the probiotic stuff to their water. They also eat grit and will eat the dirt in the run when they scratch around. I will check them all again in the am when I take them out again. I watched her at lunch today and she was acting normal and even relieved herself. I could just be overreacting but I have researched chicken keeping since the first of the year when I first decided this would be the year of getting them and all the information I have collected is conflicting.

 

[GemmaGA]

There are much more knowledgeable and experienced folks on here than me, but my chickens (limited, supervised) free range and eat grass, bugs, whatever in our yard all day long and we've not had any issues yet. That being said, I didn't really start letting them fully 'free range' until they were about 16 weeks old. Not had any issues with sour crop or anything as of yet. I think one of the key things about grass is it shouldn't be really long, tall grass they eat.

Again, definitely not an expert, but that has been my experience.

 

[NatJ]

I read where them eating grass can cause issues with crop block and now concerned if I should get rid of all the grass and just have it as dirt?

I would leave the grass.

The problems tend to happen when someone gives the chickens cut grass--they swallow one end of the grass blade, then keep swallowing until the whole thing goes down into the crop, where it can tangle up into a nasty wad.

When the chickens take bites from growing grass plants, it usually breaks right next to their beak, so they swallow a small piece (too short to tangle with anything.)

 

[mandymcg05]

To my understanding, the need grit if they're that young and eating more then just their feed, right??

 

[NatJ]

To my understanding, the need grit if they're that young and eating more then just their feed, right??

Yes, but this particular set of chicks already has it:

They also eat grit and will eat the dirt in the run when they scratch around.

 

[mandymcg05]

Yes, but this particular set of chicks already has it:

Ok, sorry! I Missed that part ... hmm.

 

[Chicalina]

chickens will turn any grassed area into bare dirt anyway within the blink of an eye!

But yes, they won't get impacted crop from eating growing grass. Sometimes they just have a full crop because they pigged out. Yes to grit but they probably find natural grit in the ground if they are on grass.

Relax, they will be fine!

 

[3KillerBs]

I started letting my chicks into the pen as soon as I'd managed to secure it so that they couldn't just zip through/under the wire.

To begin with I just let them out for an hour before dark and for the first few times I had to catch them and put them back.

At 10 and 12 weeks now they're out in the pen all day and put themselves to bed.

 

[tinamiller1]

Wow thanks all. Great input.