Does free ranging destroy lawn?

[CCUK]

NO. What you are describing is not the fault of your chickens. It is the fault of poor soil management, and perhaps not enough sunlight. Are the trees that you mention shading your lawn?

Chickens will scratch up the sod. They will make dust baths here and there. They will not cause grass to be replaced by moss.

If you have a lot of shade, that may need to be fixed. I suggest that you get a soil test done. Moss is favored by a low pH. Your lawn fix may be as simple as keeping the birds off it for a while. During this time, you would adjust pH with proper application of lime, fertilizer, and over seeding with a grass mix appropriate to your micro-climate.

Chickens will eventually finish off your lawn but the Moss will be caused by shaded damp areas. I had moss all over my front lawn and could get rid of it so o had it paved. Problem solved! No grass for chickens though.

 

[Chickassan]

They won't destroy the entire lawn but parts will be sacrificed for sure. The moss like has been stated is something going on within your lawn the chickens are innocent.....you won't hear that very often.

 

[CCUK]

They won't destroy the entire lawn but parts will be sacrificed for sure. The moss like has been stated is something going on within your lawn the chickens are innocent.....you won't hear that very often.

Chickens are innocent!!!

 

[TXchickmum]

I think it depends upon a number of things - lawn size, sod type, and how long they're on it. A small, suburban lawn that has St. Augustine type sod (example) will be destroyed quickly by 7-8 hens out all day. Acreage with a more sturdy sod will do much better. It depends whether your hens are consuming the lawn grass, digging in it, and choosing it for dusting places, too. (My hens have raised dirt beds to dust, so they typically don't dig the lawn for dusting. They don't eat the areas of Bermuda grass either, but will consume every blade of St. Augustine and dig the roots/runners.) And, the trees/shade has a lot to do with the lawn as others have pointed out.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Get a soil test done to see how well suited your yard or it's dirt is for growing grass.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I have raised 4-6 hen flocks in my back yard for the past 7 or 8 years. They free range all day and hunt through the lawn, the adjacent forest, and have all the feed they want in the coop.
I've noticed that grass in my lawn is waning and being overcome by moss. Could this be caused by hens overgrazing on the grass?

Winter yes to consumption causing bare spots but not moss. Summer our grass repairs quickly. Number of birds is also in that equation v.s. area they are permitted to access.

 

[NorthGeogia]

I think you folks are on to something. About 15 years ago, I had the soil tested and the pH was highly acidic (5.5 +/-). I used lime, but my spreader broke over 10 years ago and I stopped liming the yard.
The worst spots are those heavily shaded.
The hens tend to dust bathe in bare spot areas under shrubs, not in the lawn area.
I plan to re-landscape and lime the area, and cut down some trees. If everything grows well, I'll probably try 4 hens again.
THANKS FOR ALL COMMENTS!!!!!!!