How much land to avoid bare ground

[Beeottfirst]

There may not be a "scientific" answer to this question. But here it is. I have 10 chickens, 9 hens and a rooster. They are currently in a 6x12 (72 sq ft) chicken tractor that I move almost daily. If I don't move it at least every 1-2 days, they scratch the ground bare. I'd like to "free range" them, but they will still need to be enclosed and covered due to hawk pressure. I want to know how much area 10 chickens would need for the grass to be able to stay ahead of them and to avoid a bare pen. Basically mixed grass pasture, bermuda, fescue, etc. Northwest Arkansas, zone 6 . Thanks!

 

[Beeottfirst]

I don’t have the answer to that but 10 chickens on two acres in NW Ark might do it if you can provide sand beds for dust bathing and convince them to use them only for it.