How long until I see green?

[Mac in Wisco]

As others have said, a week to ten days. It should be long enough to mow after 6 weeks or so. It shouldn't be muddy though. You need to keep the surface moist but not wet. The area needs to be kept moist constantly until all the seeds sprout. If the seeds start to germinate and the area dries out they will die. Same with too much water, they don't get enough air and die. Unless you can be there to sprinkle every couple of hours , it's best to cover the area with straw to hold in moisture between waterings. After everything has sprouted and you have a good carpet of grass going you can start watering less frequently and more deeply. This helps the grass to grow deep roots and become more drought resistant.

 

[Judymae]

We have bermuda grass in about half of our run. The chickens have pulled strands of it up but then they let go. They have never pulled it all the way outta the ground. As a matter of fact it almost looks like it could be mowed in there!

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

Mac, you are my hero.

In the words of animal population analysis, you seem to be a "generalist"; that is, you know about a LOT of things.

I really admire that in a person, and I am thrilled to read your posts.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Gee, thanks.

I'm just a hands on type of person and have a LOT of hobbies.

Being in the military and moving around I've lived in numerous homes and rejuvenated a lot of lawns. Our latest home here southeast of Abilene was built seven years ago by an elderly couple. Very nice home on a half acre lot, but they didn't want to do any lawn care so they never planted a lawn. When we bought this place the yard was overgrown with whatever happened to grow there in the past seven years. A dozen types of grass, two dozen varities of weeds and goatheads and sandburrs everywhere. I tilled up half of the backyard last year and planted bermuda which has grown into a really nice stand, but there is still a lot of yard to go...

 

[GoodEgg]

Quote:
Gee, thanks.

I'm just a hands on type of person and have a LOT of hobbies.

Being in the military and moving around I've lived in numerous homes and rejuvenated a lot of lawns. Our latest home here southeast of Abilene <snipped>

LOL, now I'm going to be embarrassed to say what I was going to say when I read your first post. I used to live in Abilene and I was going to say that if you've ever managed to get good grass to grow there, you would be the one to listen to!

I worked the lawn there for 2 years, and FINALLY killed some of the mesquite trees that threatened to poke our eyes out, got a little scrubbly grass growing, put in some roses and forsythia (which actually did quite well, even years later) and ... not very smart ... a long border of elephant ears and caladiums, of all things.

But if you know how to make good grass grow in Abilene, you MUST be an expert!

Good luck with your grass Alley, and sorry about all your chicken losses. Your post gives me hope. I actually WANT my chickens to take care of some of this sea of grass that I don't own a lawnmower (and would probably have a heatstroke if I tried to use a push mower on) and can't get anyone to come out here and cut it. Right now they only decimate it if the run is in the 50 square foot range (which only the little temp one was) and there is still long grass even in the day run ... I've no hopes for the "big yard" especially with only limited free-ranging. Maybe when they get older I'll be singing a different tune ... I kinda hope so!

trish

 

[Smoky73]

7-10 days usually for the grass to start appearing. I would give up with grass in the chicken yard, it won't last. Just do like I do and only let the birds out to free range on the weekends (when I am home) and can keep an eye on them. They dont get greens the rest of the week, but they get their share on the weekends. Kinda like a Sunday breakfast buffet! Of course it would be nice to have grass in the yard but, I have a 12x30 yard for 15 dutch bantams and they even don't have grass.

 

[Alleyoops25]

We went out yesterday and we saw green and lots of it!!! It all srung up over night. As for wether or not it will last I am not to concerned with. Here is a picture of were they all have been hanging out for the last seven or eight months.

The grass has been kept short close up next to the porch but it is still alive. And this is kentucky blue grass. What we are growing is regular feild grass, for horse pastures. I figure if it can hold up to horses it can hold up to chickens. At least I hope it does. Its going to be a big area, and we actually dont plan on leaving them stuck there all day. Just when we wont be home, or dont want them out for one reason or another. I will have to let you all know the results of my effort. Its still going to be quite awhile before they will have acess to it so it will have time to mature. We are also getting the coop under construction. And that in its self is going to take a while. We are also going BIG with it so that we can get a bunch more chickens next spring. I will let you all know if it lasts or not.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Well, I hate to be a party pooper, but pasture grass is what we do for a living. Pasture grasses usually come in a mix of several kinds of grass. Rye is the first to come up, and comes up in about 7-10 days. The others types take as long as 24 days to start coming up. The rye is meant to shade and protect the other grasses and help prevent errosion.

With horses you can't even put them on a newly seeded pasture for over a year if you want it to last. And then you have to rotate them depending on the area they have to graze. You can only leave them on for a few minutes a day if you only have a small area. You only let them graze it down to 4 inches then they have to stay off until it reaches 12" high again. If not you over graze it.

I think that chickens will be like horse, and just love that newly sprouted grass that is sweet and tender, and then they rip it up by the roots. That's why they have to stay off. The advantage you have is that you can water it. If you want it to last, you will have to rotate your chickens like you would a horse and only keep them on one area until it get down so far and then move them. Don't put them back on the same spot until it's had a chance to fully recover.

Again I don't mean to be negative, and wish you all the luck in the world. Grass is much nicer than dirt.

 

[Galaxie_Man]

Quote:
Thats the way it is in my run.
Took them 10 days to completely strip it.

I built my coop and run where there was nothing but dirt. They love to roll around in it anyway. The rest of my yard has been cleared of all the weeds, tall grass, and ferns from their free range activities. I may just have to sell my weed whacker!

 

[greyfields]

Considering it is August, it may take longer for germination. Grasses tend to have their most vigorous growth in Spring and Fall, and sometimes will just be stubborn and not germinate until cooler weather hits. As mentioned, you need to keep your birds off it until it's probably 3" tall minimum. Even then, they'll shred it if that's the only grass their allowed to be on. Maybe you can let them out during the day, then let them into their run only at night or when you're gone for the day?

I use portable field shelters for my birds with portable electric netting. I move them weekly, otherwise they'll just trash the pasture. :0