Does grass stand a chance in a large run??? Spring update

[TcherDawn]

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If I calculate right, 10 ft x 10 ft is 100 square feet, so how many chickens would you suggest for that?

 

[ray2310]

The grass is doing so well in my run I have to cut it.

 

[teach1rusl]

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Wow! Just took a look at your coop...very solid. You and my husband would get along great! lol He has construction skills too.

Our runs are about the same dimensions...ours is 16 x 36. So if you have grass, then maybe I have a chance too!

 

[Clay In Iowa]

I have 48 chickens in a grass run wraps around the coop. It's about 2,500 square feet and I have to mow it every other week. When I'm energetic I move the poultry netting and they have fresh grass to pick through but it's never been a problem to keep them on green grass.

 

[MIKE555444]

This has been my project as well.... to have a large run with the "feel" of free ranging... My run is large enough to give more than 50s/f per chicken and it has worked well so far. They have been in this run for about 4 months and I have had to take the weedeater to it once already and it needs it again. I do believe they choose which grass they like and leave what they don't like. I need to weed eat the run again soon. I did leave a few taller plants for shade

I do have concerns about what will happen during the winter and I have wondered if I should block part of it off to give it time to recover in the spring??

 

[Sissy]

Oh I lost the grass 2 weeks after the7 hens moved in
and 1 roo in a 5x12 run
they are great lawn mowers..

 

[chookchick]

Mike555 those are some happy and healthy looking chickens! So lucky to have such a nice run--I've got to build me a bigger run!

 

[TipsyDog]

7 hens in 144 sf and I had to mow the grass!

I do let them out every morning and they come back around 4PM so I guess that really helps!

 

[PortageGirl]

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If I calculate right, 10 ft x 10 ft is 100 square feet, so how many chickens would you suggest for that?

10x10 coop? or 10x10 run? and it depends on a LOT of different things, like if it's a coop, how harsh your winters are, and if it's the run, do they get out to free range outside of the run part of the time?

Yes, frustrating isn't it?

thing is, most people say 4 sq foot for each hen, but that depends on if they are actually locked inside the coop most of the time or not. If they are, or you live up north where winter means they'll have to be inside a lot, they'll possibly get bored and grouchy, and pick on each other more... so yeah, 4 sq feet per bird is a minimum I'd say there. If they are small birds, bantams for example, 3 sq ft is prolly fine, if they are Jersey Giants, ya better give them MORE, say 5 sq ft (or more). See how this works? hehe,,, If you live in the south, and they get outside a lot, they might only need to be inside at night to roost, and they won't need much room, 3 sq ft is probably plenty even for full sized birds... of course, believe it or not, it can even bee TOO big in harsh northern weather, they won't be able to conserve heat as well in a giant barn! crazy huh?

10 sq ft per bird for the run also is just a 'rule of thumb' sort of thing. If you can give them more, great, if they're small you may be able to trim it a little, but not too much please?

Let us know where you are and what sorts of birds you have, and we'll try to help you more instead of confusing you~!

 

[teach1rusl]

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Grass!