Should I bother planting grass for them?

[furbabymum]

I'm going to be moving my chicks into the permanent coop here soon. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and plant grass in the run (it's just dirt right now) or if they'll kill the grass. My run is 130x55'.

 

[gg706]

How many chickens will be using the run? I don't have alot of experience...my chickens are only 9 weeks old. They can absolutely DESTROY the area under my 10X8 chicken tractor in one day.

 

[devora]

Well, you certainly can plant grass. They will eat it and enjoy it.

And then you'll have dirt again!

 

[KWatts2u]

i have an idea that i saw on another site. make a square (or rectangle) from 1x1's or 2x2's or what ever you have. cover the boards with hardware cloth or chicken wire. the grass will grow up through the wire, but the chicks won't be able to scratch up the area to kill the grass. i'm doing it now in a MUCH smaller area with some millet and an old soda crate. once the grass starts to come thru the wire the girls are really funny TRYING to get at the bottom.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

i saw that too and totally what I would do if not free ranging you could use 2 x 4 screwed together covered in heavy wire mesh, I'd plant flowering clovers too cause they love to eat them. My chicks sure eat alot of plants, they are salad fans.

 

[furbabymum]

I will have 13 chickens. I thought since I had such a large area for them that they may not completely kill the grass. If they will then forget it. It's so dry in my area that planting grass is a major committment.

 

[gg706]

If you are set on providing grass. Which I am...but I live in Georgia so I have no problem growing grass. I would divide the run in half and plant one side, while they graze the other side then switch, to give the grass a break and grow back. We used to rotational graze our horses like that it works really well!