Layout question from a rookie chicken farmer

[Loretto girls]

First year raising chickens and I have seven ladies at my in-laws' country home. We built an elaborate chicken "tractor" that unfortunately is not as easily-moved as my brain thought it would be. I currently have a 6' X 10' chain-link dog pen as the outdoor run. For critter protection, I have about a 60' X 12' area surrounded by two strands of electric fence (the hotel and pen are contained within).

My girls mow down the area within the dog fence in less than a week. As I mentioned, it is quite a pain to move the entire tractor/dog pen apparatus to fresh grass, not to mention my in-laws live 15 miles away. I would love to let them free range over the entire property throughout the day (chickens, not the in-laws), but not my house = not my decision.

I'm curious as to the consensus of you seasoned experts, if I should keep my current system or let them roam the entire 60' X 12'? By moving it six feet at a time like I do now, I can ensure there is always fresh grass somewhere within the electric fence area. Should I be nervous that seven hens could mow down the entire large area if I removed the dog pen altogether? Bear in mind that I don't have a different area to move to if this is eaten / scratched down to nothing.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[GitaBooks]

I have around 56 chickens at the time, some chicks and some adults. They practically have free range over 5 of the acres of our land, however, they prefer to stay near the barn and not wonder far, hanging out with-in less then a 1 acre area of yard most of the time and only foraging further in the evening. Our barn is very large, however, so they spend a lot of time in it during the day.

I hope this helps. Best of luck with your chickens!

 

[aart]

Two wires most likely won't keep them in.

 

[Loretto girls]

My bad, I forgot to add that if I let them roam the entire 60' X 12', I would boost up the fence. What I don't know is whether they would eventually trash that large of an area or I should keep them in the pen while allowing the previously used areas to regrow without being disturbed.

 

[aart]

Depends on what the vegetation is like....but more than likely, yes, they will have down to bare dirt pretty quickly...I'd guess within a month or so.