Growing Grass in the Run

[BYCforlife]

I had a similar experience...a 100 sq foot run for 9 chickens and it seemed that grass was gone before I could turn around.

It has to be huge.... My friend has a ~15000 square foot run for 30 chickens, and it still has grass. Half of the run is trees, and the chickens love that area. It's quite "used"

 

[micstrachan]

Love the mini greenhouses! Have been thinking about grazing boxes forva long tine, but don’t want to take up too much of their run space. I do grow wheat berry sprouts for them ibdoorscas a treat, but don’t let it get to the fodder stage. I’m currently trying to reseed the yard for free range time. Since rainy season is coming.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Does look like wisteria, someone's keeping it pruned(which is a weekly if not more frequent job)...not sure you want that growing on your chicken run mesh, could end up tearing it apart/down.

Yes, you're right -- wisteria can be super heavy. I'm surprised that structure is holding it up. I was thinking of something less heavy. But kind of neat idea.

 

[aart]

Yes, you're right -- wisteria can be super heavy. I'm surprised that structure is holding it up. I was thinking of something less heavy. But kind of neat idea.

It's not the weight so much as they twine and wind around everything.
Let them grow up a tree and it will kill the tree by 'strangulation'.
Honeysuckle is not much better.

 

[Gilmore768]

Run this IDEA . It is not mine in origin BTW. Plant whatever. Grass/fodder/herbs/etc. Cover with a frame made of 2 x 4 wood. On top of frame, staple 1/2 inch or slightly larger hardware cloth. When greens grow thru the screened protection, chickens consume the plants. They do not finish off the plant by eating roots and all. Scratching is also prevented from destroying the plant as well.

Great idea. I think I'll give it a whirl.

 

[doggiechef]

Impossible you say, the chickens will eat it before it grows.

Not if you put a grass sized greenhouse over it.

I was messing around trying to keep moisture in some new grass I was growing on a tray and put an old tubby over the grass... when I moved it to the chicken yard I just put the cover back over it. Now I have some more areas started right in the chicken yard. Picked up some low tubbies from wally to start some new grass.

JT

Thanks for the great idea!

 

[Abriana]

Great greenhouse idea! I need to try that-my chickens love fresh green soft grass.

 

[JShubin]

Barely Grass

I keep the lid on it until day 7ish so the chickens cant get to it.

 

[OG Anomaly]

Run this IDEA . It is not mine in origin BTW. Plant whatever. Grass/fodder/herbs/etc. Cover with a frame made of 2 x 4 wood. On top of frame, staple 1/2 inch or slightly larger hardware cloth. When greens grow thru the screened protection, chickens consume the plants. They do not finish off the plant by eating roots and all. Scratching is also prevented from destroying the plant as well.

Another excellent idea! Thanks

 

[OG Anomaly]

Impossible you say, the chickens will eat it before it grows.

Not if you put a grass sized greenhouse over it.

I was messing around trying to keep moisture in some new grass I was growing on a tray and put an old tubby over the grass... when I moved it to the chicken yard I just put the cover back over it. Now I have some more areas started right in the chicken yard. Picked up some low tubbies from wally to start some new grass.

JT

Great idea! Thanks!