Grass?

[JSO]

I’ve recently joined this friendly community, having been given a pair of peafowl by my wife for my birthday! We’ve kept them before, many years ago, and even raised a few, but after we sadly lost the last of them, just used the covered run and the old stable to which it was attached for the ducks and hens.
The new Peafowl pair are currently housed in the old building, with a high up perch. They seem happy enough. Meanwhile I’ve been restoring the netted run.
It’s about 11’x22’ (the old stable is the same width and about the same length).
I’ve been raking and levelling the run. It’s just bare soil. My question: would it be worth seeding or even turfing at least some of this area? Or would they just scratch it up? I can’t remember their outside behaviour, t know if this would be a good idea. And if not grass, would gravel or bark chippings help to keep the male’s train off the soil and inevitable mud when it rains?

 

[KsKingBee]

Plant a durable pasture fescue in the pen. It will help keep the birds healthy and give them additional nutrition. You can normally turn the birds on it after the second mowing. If you have to mow the grass you have enough space for the birds, if they kill the grass then your pen is not big enough.

 

[JSO]

Plant a durable pasture fescue in the pen. It will help keep the birds healthy and give them additional nutrition. You can normally turn the birds on it after the second mowing. If you have to mow the grass you have enough space for the birds, if they kill the grass then your pen is not big enough.View attachment 2673886

That’s really helpful. Thank you!

 

[KsKingBee]

That’s really helpful. Thank you!

You are welcome. When planning a pen figure at least 150 sq ft per bird and don't forget they tend to multiply.

 

[JSO]

You are welcome. When planning a pen figure at least 150 sq ft per bird and don't forget they tend to multiply.

Well, the run is about 240 sq.feet and the housing about the same. So we think/hope that's just about enough space.
In the past when we had peafowl we let them out , but it was endless trouble, and the village where we live is much busier now than it used to be, so I don't think we'll be wanting to do that again.
If they multiply, as they did in the past, I guess we'll not keep the offspring, although expanding the pen is a possibility. We do have the land: it's just the logistics of extending the fencing and netting...