Regrowing a Large Area of Grass with a Flock.

[lazy gardener]

I would consider dividing that area into thirds, with the coop in the middle third. (if that matches your current lay out) Do a deep litter in the area around the coop, then do your mixed pasture greens on either side. You could open up one side, let them graze for a bit, then close it down to rejuvenate while they graze the other side. The middle deep litter area would then be able to absorb the excess N and P, and give them good eats when they don't have access to the greens.

 

[TheBeardedNerd]

I can divide it into as many sections as I need, is there any way I could go about removing excess N & P from the soil or balance it out to make it easier for grass to regrow around the coop? I have the ability to coop them in multiple areas if needed to stop them from foraging in front of one coop and compacting the soil.

I'm going to rent an aerator and decompact the soil around the coop and overseed it and move the birds to their other coop/pasture.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Nitrogen will leach quickly from the soil. I would get a soil test to see what the phosphorus concentration is. Soils with 300 ppm of phosphorus can take up to 5 years for those levels to go down. The only thing that will really do it is to be growing plants with a high phosphorus requirement. High phosphorus will limit plants' ability to uptake iron and zinc so they'll likely need a foliar spray of iron and zinc. Nitrogen fixing plants will maintain the nitrogen in the soil so it is in more balance with phosphorus.
Above all, limit the additional manure added to the area.
Consider routing the chickens farther away from the immediate area with chicken tunnel or corridors between pens. Or relocate the coop from time to time.

 

[TheBeardedNerd]

Great advice, thank you so much!

 

[lazy gardener]

Or do DL in that area, and then use the resulting compost in your gardens.