Grass in the run area **(PICS)**

[silkiechicken]

A happy green lawn is probably not what you're going to get with birds on it. If you could rotate them between another run that may help but poo is hot and they are good at scratching things up. They'd probably eat any seeds that you set out. Good luck!

 

[ravenfeathers]

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it sounds like it would look nice, but wouldn't be much fun for the chickens!

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Why not. They could still scratch around in it for insects, you could still throw scratch grains out for them to root around for, and it would prevent them from becoming muddy messes. Only it would STAY in place through all of the scratching around.

I would be interested in trying it, if I can find some locally.

 

[ravenfeathers]

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Why not. They could still scratch around in it for insects, you could still throw scratch grains out for them to root around for, and it would prevent them from becoming muddy messes. Only it would STAY in place through all of the scratching around.

I would be interested in trying it, if I can find some locally.

i dunno, it's like keeping children in the house all the time. sure, they can run a bit and still play and stuff, but being outdoors and hollaring and climbing trees and getting dirty is so much better for them, physically and emotionally.

it completely eliminates any grazing that can be done on real grass, of course. further, the number of insects existing on fake grass is minimal, so foraging of any type is curtailed. creating a false foraging situation with scratch would keep them busy, but it just doesn't seem like the same thing at all to me. it's one step away from cage-free warehousing, IMO. i'd sooner create a more natural, chicken-friendly environment and have it look a bit dodgy than have astroturf in my run.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Well, no ones forcing you to buy faux grass, but implying that anything other than natural grass isn't chicken friendly, isn't a fair argument. Its simply your singular opinion.

It was simply a suggestion to the original posters question.

 

[ravenfeathers]

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Well, no ones forcing you to buy faux grass, but implying that anything other than natural grass isn't chicken friendly, isn't a fair argument. Its simply your singular opinion.

It was simply a suggestion to the original posters question.

i always submit my singular opinion. that's what people do here. wasn't it your singular opinion that fake grass would be a good option?

i also don't think i was implying anything. i'm saying that a chicken is made to do certain things, to have certain atavistic functions, and (if you like) in my opinion, keeping them on anything other than natural ground is, by definition, not chicken friendly. everyone else's mileage may definitely vary.

 

[gotchooks?]

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A neighbor's son grew up, went to college for horticulture, and married a sod farmer's daughter. I told him what I planned to use the sod for, and he told me I would want sod that didn't have grubb control/pesticide and herbicide applied. He assured me he would not apply any to a tract he would set aside for me and 4 other customers wanting the same (that it is safe for my hens to eat). He told me it would be easier to re-sod in the spring each year at $30 delivered. He takes care of his Mom and Dad's place (my neighbors) in the spring, so it's no big deal he says to add in my sod order.

Does anyone have any luck with reseeding every couple of weeks or does it all just burn up? I know the hens will eat a lot of the grass seed, but maybe enough will make it to sprouting?

**edited to add: Thanks Wynette. I don't have space for another run, but I am curious to hear how the 4 week rotation works out. Good Luck!

 

[sianara]

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If I understand what you've said above you mean FOR $30 a year you could re-sod your entire run? Personally, at that cost that's what I would do!

 

[gotchooks?]

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If I understand what you've said above you mean FOR $30 a year you could re-sod your entire run? Personally, at that cost that's what I would do!

Yes, the sod is cheap, and the way to go, but is there a way to keep it up for the season? It really is on it's last legs. The hens started with lush blades of grass to graze, now they're picking at stubble. Do you think it's unrealistic to scatter grass seed every couple of weeks, in hopes that some will sprout? I'm trying to keep them in grass as long as the warm weather holds. I didn't do anything this year but hose the poo down 'til it dissolved....Maybe I should have been scattering seeds the from the beginning instead of waiting until the wear really showed...

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

That is basically impossible. Everytime the grass pops through the soil even just being slightly visible... the chickens will run it right down like little lawnmowers.