What happens if you build run over grassy area? and other questions

[hrhta812]

Very new person here, knowing practically nothing about chickens.

We are thinking about building a coop attached to our barn, making an entrance to nesting boxes we'll build inside the barn, and a good size run attached. The area all around the barn is grass [at one time we had a couple horses, but not any longer], and we have been mowing it.

I'm wondering if the chickens normal activity will keep the grass shorter in the run area or do we need to be able to get a mower inside the run area from time to time? Also, will the run area need hosing or raking or something to keep it clean, or will the chicken manure get worked into the grass/ground?

We only have 2 hens & a rooster now, but may get a few more hens - what square footage should you have for a run with 3-6 chickens? Is there a recommended formula for square footage per chicken?

 

[saddina]

They will eat every speck of grass they can reach... which means no mowing.

 

[patandchickens]

Unless your run is extremely vast, you will not have anything to mow -- the chickens will take it all down to essentially bare dirt in fairly short time. Indeed depending on your climate, soil type and # chickens, you may well want to add some sand or gravel or mix, or in a dryish site you could use straw or mulch, to prevent a mud problem from developing.

Build the run as big as you can manage while still a) affording the materials and b) making it acceptably predatorproof according to your personal standards of what risks are acceptable. It should for sure not be less than 8-10 sq ft per chicken; but more is certianly better.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Cheep a'lil Talk a'lil]

If you give the 3 a good size area and let them out to free range your grass might have a chance.
From what I've seen (as we don't have our chickens yet) is that the run will end up packed down with nothing left growing. You may go in from time to time to rake it but you won't have to worry about mowing!

I know there is a formula for # of chickens for coop size but not sure what it is for run size

sorry. I'm sure the more experienced chicken folk will let you know.

 

[Eggie and Me]

First check out the Learning Center and Chickens 101 and read, read, read and then read some more.

Tons of really good information. As for the grass lucky you and luckier chickens. You won't want to mow the grass, it's such a good food source and will give your flock something to do. In fact, in time you may not even have much grass.?? We have 7 chickens 4 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Barred Rocks, our gals are a couple days short of 16 weeks. We live in the "city" so out of consideration of our neighbors we don't have a rooster

. I REALLY want one, call me a wacko, but I think some of them are just so beautiful. Our run is 15' x 16' the coop is 2' off the ground. The coop itself is approx 68 sq ft. We have a combo of individual nesting boxes and "group" nesting which is what our girls seem to enjoy for the moment. Their yard also has protective screening on the top for additional safety. EVEN THOUGH we're in the city we have seen 2 raccoons in the last week, so plan for predators..... We also have the complete parameter cemented so that no uninvited guests try to dig in. Anywho, welcome again and will watch for more posts from you. Good Luck

 

[Chicks R Friends NOT Food]

Grass will definately not be a problem. You will probably want to rake out the run depending on size, smaller runs means more of a need for cleaning. More run= spaced-out poo, small run= lots of poo in a small area. It will get mushed in some eventually, but it can get stinky and around here we get a lot of flies if it's not clean enough. You might want to think about a dustbathing area too. They will dig their own holes if you don't make a box, etc for them.

 

[hrhta812]

Good to know we won't have to worry about mowing! We have 3 acres and it takes me almost 4 hours to mow now, so any reduction is good. We let part of what used to be pasture go to a meadow, bringing in lots more wild birds - very cool - but there's still lots to mow.

We will let them range while we're outside, but only then, because we have red-tailed hawks in the area and lots of wide open space on the property. A few days ago as I was pulling out of the driveway, I happened to look up and saw the hawk circling overhead. I pulled back in and put a tarp over our temporary coop to discourage him - it does have window screening as a top right now, but I wasn't sure how see-through that might look to him from way up above, so I figured I'd make it clear he can't dive down into the coop.