How much grass for 10 chickens to graze without killing the grass?

[hayley3]

I am moving and found a house with an additional separate lot and it's .2 acre so that equals 134ft wide by 134ft. I want to make sure they won't have it bald in 3 months and have nothing left to eat. I can only find recommended square foot per coop. TIA!

 

[tlcmurphy]

It depends on how many chickens you have, but they can sure dig it up in a hurry!
I don’t think chickens eat grass, but they did in it trying to find delicious bugs and worms

 

[hayley3]

It depends on how many chickens you have, but they can sure dig it up in a hurry!
I don’t think chickens eat grass, but they did in it trying to find delicious bugs and worms

Oh yeah I forgot to say I have 9 chickens and a goose...They do eat grass but the scratching for bugs kills the grass. I'd hate to buy this house and it not be enough.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Geese for sure eat grass. I’m not sure how much of a lawn is required, sorry

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't know if there's a hard number as it depends on how durable the grass/plants are in the area, plus soil conditions, rainfall, etc. They will likely tear up certain patches until they're completely bare (but my dogs do that too), so don't expect a perfect lawn no matter how much space you give them.

I did find this post which was interesting to read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...happy-flock-size.1428288/page-2#post-23519900 so that might be relevant to you, for comparison.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I would think that 9 chickens would scratch up a .2 acre plot pretty quickly. if they're on it all day every day. The goose will of course also eat grass but not scratch.

The only approach that might work would be if you were able to use temporary fencing to get the chickens into one small space at a time and rotationally graze them.

 

[hayley3]

Geese for sure eat grass. I’m not sure how much of a lawn is required, sorry

Geese eat the tips off the grass but don't destroy it...chickens on the other hand...haha

 

[tlcmurphy]

Geese eat the tips off the grass but don't destroy it...chickens on the other hand...haha

Yes, they are rough on the landscape!

 

[hayley3]

I don't know if there's a hard number as it depends on how durable the grass/plants are in the area, plus soil conditions, rainfall, etc. They will likely tear up certain patches until they're completely bare (but my dogs do that too), so don't expect a perfect lawn no matter how much space you give them.

I did find this post which was interesting to read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...happy-flock-size.1428288/page-2#post-23519900 so that might be relevant to you, for comparison.

Thanks.... I'll have to measure it tomorrow. The AI bot changed my dimensions to 87 ft not 134 which is a lot less.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I have a fenced area about that big and they haven't destroyed the grass yet and I keep a sheep in there too, BUT I only have 7 hens and they are not let out there every single day (maybe a few days a week). I find that my chickens aren't as interested in grass in the summertime when the bugs are out. They are more likely to eat and kill the young fresh grass in the spring when they're craving greens. As @rosemarythyme said, they will certainly tear up small patches for dust bathing, etc.