Do chickens ruin a grass run?

[Nicole01]

Mine did within a week or two. They now have a sand run which they love!

I let them free range daily to eat the grass and weeds.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I free range mine, but they go into the run in the mornings before I let them outside. They ruined it in 3 days. It's about 15 x 8 and used to be pretty nice. Oh, well, whada ya do?

 

[Jakoda]

my run is 12 x20 , the chickies have been out there for 3 weeks, let's just say not much grass left.
I can't free range, to many predators.

Has anyone ever used, or can it be used, the sod you buy in strips? Can chickens eat that ? It's real grass I believe..Of course that would disappear to, but wondering if it's ok for chickens?

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I haven't tried that.

I really want to grow some wheat and oatgrass fodder for this winter. Just to give them something to forage in. It is like grass, but more nutritious. Hopefully, it will save me some money too.

 

[Vicky2479]

I purposely fenced off a 150sqf of lawned area to put them during the day so they would destroy it and dig it over so I could plant a new lawn come spring, they have been at it for 3 weeks and are nearly done, there are 6 of them. So yes they will destroy it in no time

 

[Going Quackers]

Well things changed and i ended up moving them in there this morning. It's basically just dirt but they seem content nonetheless. I hope to look into a electric fence set-up for next year since they cannot free range.

 

[Going Quackers]

my run is 12 x20 , the chickies have been out there for 3 weeks, let's just say not much grass left.
I can't free range, to many predators.

Has anyone ever used, or can it be used, the sod you buy in strips? Can chickens eat that ? It's real grass I believe..Of course that would disappear to, but wondering if it's ok for chickens?

See that is what i was thinking of, sod.. of coarse now that i think of it.. the blasted chemicals! they spray that stuff something awful.

 

[Going Quackers]

I haven't tried that.

I really want to grow some wheat and oatgrass fodder for this winter. Just to give them something to forage in. It is like grass, but more nutritious. Hopefully, it will save me some money too.

How does one go about doing it?

 

[Pharm Girl]

Before.

..

and after...




any questions?

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

How does one go about doing it?

I want to just build a rack with some trays in it. The trays would have holes in the bottom so water could drain onto the ones below and eventually into pans at the bottom. Then I could reuse the water. The seeds sprout into grass and their roots form a mat, so you can just roll it out for them (like a carpet of grass) and they eat it all, no waste. Wheatgrass is that yucky (I think so) green juice that makes you live ten years longer, but supposedly it increase egg production like crazy.

here's someone that is growing a whole bunch of sprouts: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/creating-your-own-fodder-system