Grass mowing

[mossyoakpro]

I hope I don't sound too ignorant here but I'm still working on my coop for the spring arrival of chicks....in the meantime I'm cruising posts here and trying to figure things out. I've looked and have never really found an answer to the question of "What do you do with your free range flock when mowing grass?" I have to mow at least once a week and sometimes more with all the rain. I run a big commercial zero turn which make lots of noise!! Do I put them in the coop? Leave them out and let them get out of the way? My coop is going to be fairly close to my house in my backyard.

 

[alinas2010]

Ours run and hide either in the coop or under the porch when we mow. They don’t like the noise and immediately go in the opposite direction once the lawn mower starts. If you’re worried yours won’t, I’d put them away for the time that you’re mowing. You could always just start it and not move and see what they do.

 

[texsuze]

Just went through this with my 17 week old pullets. I mow maybe 2x/year if I have to (mostly native range). I have plenty of space but made sure my girls were on one side of the barn and I was on the other when mowing. Later in the day, we swapped sides of the barn. I don't want them near the mower or weed wacker--too much stuff shooting out. I know they were stressed, even though my older girls are used to the sound. I have a JD riding mower. My weed wacker is battery operated (less machine noise) but it does sound like a swarm of bees!

If you can provide a temporary secure location with easy access, it might help until they are used to the sound. Plan your work for best efficiency, if possible.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

We have a Scag commercial zero turn and when the mower comes out my chickens stay under the lean-tos or in the barn. We use the mower all around the barn as well and my chickens don't freak out or get stressed, but simply stay out of the way and as soon as we're done mowing they go back to following us around everywhere.

 

[mossyoakpro]

We have a Scag commercial zero turn and when the mower comes out my chickens stay under the lean-tos or in the barn. We use the mower all around the barn as well and my chickens don't freak out or get stressed, but simply stay out of the way and as soon as we're done mowing they go back to following us around everywhere.

I always cut the back first near where their coop will be so I figure once I'm done with that they'll come outta hiding and start scratching the newly cut grass...

 

[Molpet]

I give them cut grass so they aren't afraid of the JD , its a bringer of food, and I have to keep an eye out if the mower is off. When the deck is running they avoid it.

 

[aldarita]

My hens have been with me for many years. At the beginning they ran inside their run and hide away, later on they got used to the mower (a zero turn) and they would stay out of the run but away from the mower, now they run after the mower because they see the grasshoppers flying around and want to catch them. We mow at least once a week. I would say let them get used to the mower, they will be scared but after a while, they will be ok.

 

[3KillerBs]

My chickens don't range, but they are remarkably blase about heavy equipment. They supervised the house being installed. They watched over the crew that dug the ditch for the water and electric lines. They even completely ignored a commercial wood chipper so close to their pen that we had to move the fence back to ensure that the tree crew didn't get jolted by the electric.

But if you mow in the morning you can just leave them in the coop until you're done.

I run a big commercial zero turn which make lots of noise!!

I have mower envy.

Sometimes I get to run my DH's commercial zero-turn at his workplace (a historic site where I volunteer), and it's so much nicer than my mower at home.

 

[mossyoakpro]

My chickens don't range, but they are remarkably blase about heavy equipment. They supervised the house being installed. They watched over the crew that dug the ditch for the water and electric lines. They even completely ignored a commercial wood chipper so close to their pen that we had to move the fence back to ensure that the tree crew didn't get jolted by the electric.

But if you mow in the morning you can just leave them in the coop until you're done.



I have mower envy.

Sometimes I get to run my DH's commercial zero-turn at his workplace (a historic site where I volunteer), and it's so much nicer than my mower at home.

I was tired of buying a new mower every few years so I bit the bullet and bought a commercial mower hoping it will last me a long time. I did upgrade to a bigger cut since my wife decided she wanted another acre of our yard cut with a lawn mower instead of a bush hog tractor mower...of course I'm the one cutting it!! LOL

 

[3KillerBs]

I was tired of buying a new mower every few years so I bit the bullet and bought a commercial mower hoping it will last me a long time. I did upgrade to a bigger cut since my wife decided she wanted another acre of our yard cut with a lawn mower instead of a bush hog tractor mower...of course I'm the one cutting it!! LOL

Our property wouldn't justify a commercial machine, but I *do* want a zero turn.

At the height of grass season my DH can spend 30 out of 40 hours a week mowing at work so I do the mowing at home.