10 square feet per chicken is the minimum amount of space recommended for a run so that the chickens don't kill each other. If you want green grass for them, then you have to go by the guidelines for pasturing them on grass, which doesn't seem to be an option for you. It's like the difference between having a horse living in a stall and living in a pasture. The amount of space you need to allow per horse is very different.
You can offer wheat grass, other grasses and/or dark leafy greens. You can free range part of the day. In a more generously sized run, that may help ease the grazing pressure. You will still have the constant trampling, as well as scratching, from overcrowding the turf.
Do you just like the look of grass? Do you just like the idea of them walking on grass? Is there some other reason that you have a problem with them not being on grass? I like my chickens to be on grass, too. My main flock free ranges. Younger chickens that need protection and also need to grow up before being added to the flock live in mobile housing that is moved daily to fresh grass.
Small runs that have no grass often do well with a nice layer of sand in them. It drains well and keeps the run drier. It's also easy to rake or scoop clean, as needed.
If you just have an attachment to your grass and hate to see part of it destroyed, try thinking of the run like you do the area around a swimming pool. It's just not an area where grass is going to hold up to the wear and tear. So, it gets replaced with something that will.
You can offer wheat grass, other grasses and/or dark leafy greens. You can free range part of the day. In a more generously sized run, that may help ease the grazing pressure. You will still have the constant trampling, as well as scratching, from overcrowding the turf.
Do you just like the look of grass? Do you just like the idea of them walking on grass? Is there some other reason that you have a problem with them not being on grass? I like my chickens to be on grass, too. My main flock free ranges. Younger chickens that need protection and also need to grow up before being added to the flock live in mobile housing that is moved daily to fresh grass.
Small runs that have no grass often do well with a nice layer of sand in them. It drains well and keeps the run drier. It's also easy to rake or scoop clean, as needed.
If you just have an attachment to your grass and hate to see part of it destroyed, try thinking of the run like you do the area around a swimming pool. It's just not an area where grass is going to hold up to the wear and tear. So, it gets replaced with something that will.
