Grass nearly all gone, now what?

[raingarden]

I have a ramshackled little net pen divided into two sections about 60 square feet each.. I put a hen and four chicks in one side yesterday. It had a small stands of pearl millet, proso millet and buckwheat.

Here's what it looked like 24 hours later.

They're starting to excavate now so it will all be gone by tomorrow.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I have had 4 girls since April 2021. I love them dearly. They have a 9'x24' attached run (which has mulch flooring) but spend at least half the day in my suburban backyard. I used to have lush grass but now it's nearly destroyed from their pecking/eating and scratching! I'd love to be able to grow more grass/ground cover so they can have that entertainment and they just love to eat it too (I also grow fodder for them in addition to layer feed). My grass area is only about 12'x25'.

Any suggestions?

Do I maybe fence off half to regrow grass then give them that half and regrow the other? Or is it a losing cause.
View attachment 3015264

My husband said he didn't want the chickens tearing up our backyard anymore so he built them a chicken yard next to their run. It is 570sqft, I planted a couple trees(still have a lot of growing to do) and I'll be adding a few more things. They have access to it after I get home from work and on the weekends. If it gets sad looking I'll keep them out, reseed, and resume after it fills back in.

 

[My Three Chicks]

Thank you She thinks she's a chicken, will hang out with them all day

She looks not much bigger than the chickens!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

She looks not much bigger than the chickens!

She's a shi tzu dachshund mix, 13lbs, and 6yrs old, but if you ask her she is queen dingling and can take on anything, and nothing will get her chickens

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Wow thats terrific. Lukey birds. The run looks great! (And your pup is adorable too

Thank you She thinks she's a chicken, will hang out with them all day