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

[scubagirl]

I thought it was going to work out for me for a while until I moved the 26 chicks out with the 3 older hens.

Grass was gone in no time. Luckily they free range all day anyway.

good Luck

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

I have an artificial lawn and I would not recommend it for chickens..the fibers or filament(like plastic thread) does occasionally shed and it would be dangerous for the chickens to swallow and I think they would destroy it. Its tough but not chicken tough. Our dogs have made holes on the edges, almost like fraying. Just a thought.....not trying to argue with anyone.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Oh sigh...How lovely & green your run is. My chickens told me that they were very jealous.

How long has the chickens been in there with the sod? I wonder how long it will stay so nice and lush.

My run is 14' x20' and my 16 chickens demolished the grass in there within 3 weeks or so.

Now the poor things chase after any green leaves and fight over them that fall into the run.

 

[mangled]

When our girls free-ranged, they absolutely DECIMATED a full 100 lbs. of grass seed. Once they found where it was spread, and even with the straw my husband swore would keep it safe (duh!), there was not a single blade of grass that germinated out of the 100 POUNDS of seed we laid.

Re-seeding won't work. Sorry. We learned the hard way.

Em

 

[65browneyes]

I keep planters on the OUTSIDE of the run with grass seed in them specifically for the girls. When one of the planters gets nice and plush, place it in the run. Course, the girls wipe it out in short order. I try to make sure to rotate them so the girls always have nice green grass.

 

[babalubird]

No doubt too much concentration of the chicken poop along with the fact that they peck, dig, scratch the grass up too is what is happening to your grass.

If you really want your chickens on grass for those dark yokes, what about a portable coop or chicken tractor so you can relocate it every day or every few days? Look up chicken tractors or portable coops here and on the web for ideas.

Connie

 

[Corey NC]

My run is sectioned into two parts. As soon as I notice all the grass dying that section is cut off until it grows back high enough that the chooks can't scratch it down. It look like a jungle right now, I have little trees growing. I need to get in there and clean it out but I just haven't taken the time to yet.

I'll post pics tomorrow.

 

[ridgefire]

Well it could be worse.

Their whole run used to be as green as it is on the other side of the fence.

Now other than a few picker bushes that they seem to like to lay under there is nothing green in there.

 

[Anny]

Wow I'm amazed you still have that much grass , you're chicken must have lots of nice room in the run.

I thought about soding my run in the spring but I always fear all the chemicals that go into sod.

Reseeding isn't really an option since they will eat the seeds.

I was juts going to make a little "mow house" like the one you were talking about, With my urban home I think that would be the best idea.

I was also planning on taking them up to the community garden in it and letting them "play" in the raised bed in the fall when the produce is done growing.

 

[chicka_chicka_boom_boom]

Quote:
Do chickens like to go on field trips? What a concept... imagine the possibilities!