Flock Mgmt. or Lazy Landscaping?

[KellyLyn]

Last Summer I decided that I don't really need or want a grass lawn in my backyard; but, the idea of removing everything so I can replant and redesign just tires me out. Hey now, my small flock sure made a blank landscape of their Chicken Run & Yard and it's been bare dirt since 2016... hmmmm.

Day One: Looked around the backyard, assessed the 6ft. fence and general security and sanity of this idea. I gave them their morning treats and threw open the chicken Yard door as I left for work in the morning told the girls: "Stay safe and be home by dark!" They were all roosting when I got home (after dark) so they got to go out the next day too.

Day Three: The girls are being counted each night before I lock them up. So far so good and yes they are already making an impact. I'm sure they are having lots of fun too. I have let them run the backyard before as a special outing and enjoyed watching them hunt snails and slugs and generally dig and demolish things.

I'll keep posting as the winter moves along into spring. This might actually work.

 

[duluthralphie]

This is using the old Kidneys!! Smart move! I tried using them to weed the garden. That did not turn out so well.

 

[RUNuts]

They are real good at edging too. My flock pulled out all the tall grass along the trees in no time.

I think your idea is good. I'm waiting for warmer weather to get some clover seed to sew on the old chicken site.

 

[Folly's place]

Wood chips, shavings, grass clippings, and similar stuff, will manage mud and keep things interesting out there. They love to rearrange mulch! Mary

 

[aart]

Lazy demo/prep, could work great, tho they may not demo where you want..haha!
But long term could be a landscaping disaster, new plantings will need to be fenced off or birds will likely destroy it, nothing like a freshly dug and/or mulched garden bed to attract the Avian Excavators.

 

[KellyLyn]

UPDATE: Week Two: The flock is making great progress - I can clearly see patches where grass is all but gone. They are going to be so bummed when they learn that after this demo work - no more backyard trips. But I may be done with the Mulching Bin project - which I expect their help with too.

 

[driver]

I'm letting my chickens out on my garden over the winter. It always ends up overrun with weeds and I'm hoping they might have an impact on that. Once I put vegetables in, I'll have to fence them OUT of the garden instead of in it.