Grass in Run...by using a screen....

[K-Chick]

I'm looking for the person who gave the idea of making a wooden frame and puting a screen over it and laying in the run and the grass will grow through the screen and the hens can have some grass. I have a few other questions for that person if you are out there somewhere. Thanks

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

I've had cages in the past with wire floors. The grass does not grow well under chickens. The poo is not right for growing anything untill it has dried out and rotted, that allows the amonia to release its self properly. When its fresh it will right out kill a plant , including grass. Take the chickens away from that area for a while though and you will have grass come up after a while. But most of what comes up isnt grass but instead grain seeds sprouting from the food you feed them if you feed the scratch type.

 

[DarkWolf]

Interesting idea... Be worth a try for sure.

 

[K-Chick]

I took 2 old window frames and put chicken wire over it and placed it in the run. Its about 4 inches off the ground. I do have some grass and stuff growing up. The hens pick it as soon as they can reach it, but they can't scratch and destory it.

I'm thinking about expanding the run and I was thinking of making a bigger spot covered with chicken wire to see if they can have more grass all the time. There is grass there now so I'd have a good start.

 

[Kansaseq]

I just pick grass and clover for my flock each day, and throw it in the run. They love it, and it only takes a second to do.

 

[justhatchin]

I am not who you are looking for but--I have in my peacock pen a 2x2 square made from 2x4's nailed togather with a hail screen ( with out looking I think-1/2 inch-1/4 maybe) formed over the frame and stapled down I rolled it over the sides -put it along the sides of the fence and watered -let the natural weeds and grass come up. This was last year, I did it about mid to late spring looked terrible I was sure it was a waste of time but---This year it looks great and is working very well. Only 2 peas in the pen though. If the chickens just stand on it and poo- it might be you need to keep the chiockens off of it till it gets established. I'm not sure what you really needed though- Just a few thoughts. Hope this helps. Susan

edited to add the 2x4 are upright not laying flat.

 

[K-Chick]

Here's a picture...if it uploaded right

 

[CityChook]

Who am I to say, but it seems like wire would hurt their feet after a while. I know I wouldn't want to hang out on wire all day, even if it meant eating poo-covered grass every now and then.

 

[sianara]

Quote:
That might be me you are looking for? But I didn't use screen, I used different types of wire. Basically, I built a simple frame box with an open bottom, picture a sand box with no bottom. Then, I built a wire top which was framed with wood and I hinged the top to the frame box. I add soil and any "cheep" fast growing grass seed. Water as necessary and make sure it's in a sunny spot. I've made some boxes using 1/2" hardware cloth as the top, some using plastic hardware cloth like "wire" and some using 1" plastic coated chicken wire. These were all put together real quick and aren't very long lasting.

As time has gone by I've realized that the tops need to have wood supports on the underside of the wire if the area is bigger than 12" inches wide and whatever you use for the "wire" top, make sure it is TIGHT when attached to the top frame.

My boxes are only 3-4 inches high so the chickens can stand on the ground and just pick the grass out as they wish. Of course, they often do stand on the top of it as well but they're not hanging out there all day and I haven't heard anybody complaining that their feet hurt yet

As the grass gets "old" I usually just open up the lid and let them have at it. Within the day they've got every single blade of grass ingested and 1/3 of the dirt as well. I just add more soil and grass seed and start the planting all over again. This process goes on all spring/summer long.

Oh yeah, they want to be "helpful" when I'm planting but I usually tell them "thanks, but no thanks" and lock them out of the area while I'm trying to work. It's very hard accomplishing anything with 12 hens trying to eat the seed as it's landing on the new soil