Grass salad bar in the run

[urbanfarmette]

i have seen posts on this in the past. people have built frames made of 2x4s and covered the top with poultry wire or hardware cloth to protect the grass under it from being destroyed. the hens can munch on what grows through the top but can't kill the grass by pulling it up. i have a few questions for those who have tried this.

1. any opinion on hardware cloth vs poultry wire? i'm thinking the poultry wire would allow the grass to come through more easily but the hardware cloth would withstand more weight and need less bracing for fat chickens

2. chicken poop. will it build up and need to be cleaned out or just "compost" on it's own. will it burn up the grass? i was thinking of making the salad bar half of my 4x8 run. the other half would be sand.

3. if anyone has pictures of what they've done, i'd love to see them!

thanks in advance,
jessica

 

[Mattemma]

I would do the hardware wire.For poop you could always just dump some water on it to dilute. I am waiting for things to dry up so I can redo my run with a salad bar,sand box,and maybe dirt box.My hens always went for dirt holes over the sand.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

I've got several old tires, I'm thinking of making into salad bars for the girls. Seems the only thing they let grow in their pasture are the trees and the thistles.