how quickly do chickens destroy the ground?

[Renthorin]

I'm going to have a large run for them, as well as a tractor so they can free range, but be protected from the monsters that lurk in the woods around the house.

How quickly do chickens destroy a yard if you don't move the tractor often enough? Will they rip the grass up in one day or one week?

I'm planning on 8-10 hens and the tractor will be 6*10 probably. Haven't fully designed it yet so it may be larger.

The run is 6x12 at the moment but may become 6x24 if I get more dog kennel panels.

 

[Nonny]

I have three chooks, and they've been in their run for 2 months. The run was broadleaf grass and groundcover plants and looked lovely and green, now it's dirt. The run is roughly 20ft x 6 ft.

I should also add that they freerange in the backyard for at least 6 hours most days, so they only spend mornings and evenings in their run.

 

[Kudzu]

Mine have dug some pretty impressive holes in the 5-6 weeks they have been in their run.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Our hens have always been addicted to scratching, digging and such, thus they (dozen hens) destroy a pristine grass run of 12x20 within 3 days. YMMV.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Of course it will depend on what is growing there and how well it is established. This photo was taken after three days. The tractor was 64 square feet (two 4' x 8' sections that I joined.) I had eight full sized chickens in it. It did rain while they were there and that made it a worse than it would have been if it had been dry. It was a former horse pasture so the stuff was reasonably well established, but I mowed it shortly before I moved them to this spot. Mine stayed in it day and night.

Hope this helps answer your question.

 

[bburn]

Ridgerunner....how did you get a picture of my yard?

bahahahaha....chickens can eat some green stuff pretty darn fast!

 

[SanctusPullus]

Quote:
WOW! A picture says a thousand words, doesn't it? And here I am trying to sod my yard...

 

[Renthorin]

Uh oh....and I thought my dogs were hard on the yard!

 

[Smittenroade]

lol when I saw this thread I just laughed...Very fast! is your answer....lmao

Also, they dig holes....have you ever seen the movie "Holes"? They should have used chickens instead of children...