Sod in the run?

[blueberrychickens]

The sod is out @ Lowes & I thought it would be a good way to get grass back into the run that the girls have made barren. I know that it would just get eaten & all dug up just like the original patch of lawn was. But I thought it would be a quick fix for the spring time. The girls are trying to dig to China I swear by the size of some of the holes in the run now. Has anyone ever put sod in their run before??? Would it just be a total waste of money?? My DH seems to think that the sod is highly treated w/ chemicals(fertilizers) & it might be a bad idea to do it.
What do you think?

 

[weeders n feeders]

It would be a waste of money. They will shred it in no time. Last year i had three in a tractor that i moved regularly. In a week or two the ground was bare which was my goal as it was yucky weed and grass mix and I wanted it cleaned up so I could lay sod in that area. I have seen some posts here about some that have made a salad bar in their coop by planting seed in a raised bed and covering in with chicken wire. Then the chickens can have what grows above the wire but not dig it all up below the wire.

 

[GiddyMoon]

If you cover it with wire and turn it into a salad bar you could preserve it. I have seen a few threads around here with pictures...type in salad bar..but I would want to make sure the sod was not raised with pesticides. You could do the same thing by marking off an area with edge and wire and planting seed, it grows rather quickly.

 

[carrlr]

Quote:
Exactly what I was going to suggest. Great idea GiddyMoon!!

 

[patandchickens]

Sod IS treated with a whole heckuva lot of pesticides and fertilizers, if you don't want the chickens exposed to that then anything other than organic sod (ka-ching) is not a good idea. If you don't mind, then you don't mind

It really won't last very long at all though. You could achieve pretty much the same effect for free by just dumping some lawn clippings or safe garden weedings in there

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[aggie9296]

Here's the best "salad bar" thread with pics.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=482852

I agree that the sod would be decimated in no time. Grass clippings would do if you don't do a salad bar.

 

[GiddyMoon]

Quote:
Exactly what I was going to suggest. Great idea GiddyMoon!!

Wasn't my idea, but thank you..I just good at passing them along

ANd we plan on putting one in, but I am just going to throw down a bunch of the birdseed we use here..that stuff is safe and sprouts very quickly!

 

[Merryment]

Pesticides aren't your only concern. Many sod farms use a plastic mesh to anchor their seed medium or sprigs. When the sod is cut up, the plastic comes with it. It eventually 'degrades', but in the mean time, your chickens will go for it - it's a lovely shade of green - and it will clog themup & kill them. It's the same sort of plastic fibers that are used in the new plastic feed bags. It's ugly when that tries togo,unsuccessfully, through a chicken's digestive system. Better to fill in with some dirt & lay down lots of pine shavings. I throw the grass clippings from lawn mowing in there,too, so the girls have something to scratch & root through.

 

[blueberrychickens]

Thanks for the input, I'll run the salad bar idea by the DH & see what he says.....
As for dumping in grass clippings, I think we are still a good week or two before the mower comes out for the season. We did that last yr & the girls certainly enjoyed it.