Grass in your runs

[hairco]

I would like to have grass in my runs but don't know how to do that with the peacocks in the runs.
I had thought about laying sod.Will that work?

 

[Duckopolis]

Could you please give a little more detail to the question? You could but sod in there or just move the run over a good patch of grass. I don't know if that would be an option.

 

[DylansMom]

I would like to have grass in my runs but don't know how to do that with the peacocks in the runs.
I had thought about laying sod.Will that work?

We tried sod and it is nice the first season, after that it goes downhill until they have completely eaten and killed it. Nothing left but mud after the first winter.

 

[Pfauenfreund]

We tried sod and it is nice the first season, after that it goes downhill until they have completely eaten and killed it. Nothing left but mud after the first winter.

This is just a question of size and number of animals you have in. In my aviaries I have birds since over ten years an there is still grass. It is absolute not problem if you will do it in a right relation between number of birds and aviary size!

 

[DylansMom]

This is just a question of size and number of animals you have in. In my aviaries I have birds since over ten years an there is still grass. It is absolute not problem if you will do it in a right relation between number of birds and aviary size!

Yes it is, but she has posted photos of her runs and they appear to be about the same size as mine and much smaller than yours.

Mine are approx. 12'x30' for 3 peas.

 

[mandyok]

Can you tell me size of your pens and number of birds in one pen?

 

[mandyok]

Sorry forgot to put who I was asking. The question was for pfauenfreund.

 

[mandyok]

Have not tried these but here is a conversation about grass boxes

...and welcome to the world of chickens destroying grass! They'll eat ALMOST anything green. My enclosed run was initially grass/weeds. Within a month, it was dirt. You can not grow anything from seed in an area chickens frequent. They will eat the seeds before they even have a chance to sprout. I have since covered my dirt run with sand and it's much cleaner/easier to keep clean - and less muddy.

As for the grass... I discovered a way to grow fresh greens for my flock without them destroying the roots so it can re-grow. I made a box out of 2x4. I made a hinged lid for the box with 2x2 and stapled 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth to the underside. Something like this:


In the box I planted some winter rye grass seed that I sprouted in milk jugs in my garage. I chose winter rye grass 'cause it grows in the cold, and the grass will grow through the wire, unlike wide flat leaves like lettuces. Read about winter sowing here:

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2013/01/hows-your-winter-sowing-coming-along-2/
Hope this helps

 

[zazouse]

I would like to have grass in my runs but don't know how to do that with the peacocks in the runs.
I had thought about laying sod.Will that work?

From the looks of your photos it looks like your pen is in the woods and there isn't any grass to start with, if that is correct then you may need to seed the area and the pens with a grass seed that will do well in the shade, i will tell you my peas loved my grass and clover seeds and ate most all of it.

 

[Pfauenfreund]

Can you tell me size of your pens and number of birds in one pen?

The size depends a little bit about the climatic situation where you are living. The figures here are working perfect in my area (south of Germany).
For one pair it needs a square space of 70 square meters and for each bird which you have more in you have to add 30 square meters.
This size is fine too if a hen will lead some chicks over the summer. Latest end of November the chicks have to be out then into a separate pen, otherwise grass has too much stress over the winter.