Which type of grass seed should I buy for a free range yard - fast growing and hard wearing

[Sire12]

They have created a few blank spots here and there in the garden so I'm going to fence it off and sow some grass seeds to even it all back out, which kind is best for this? They hens usually have free range of the whole backyard, are there any types of grass seeds which would suit best for this which is fast growing and hard wearing, I've heard that Bermuda grass can be very invasive but would that be a good thing in this case since they will eventually walk all over it and scrape it up anyway?

 

[staceyj]

Are you FROM Northern Ireland or
IN Northern Ireland?

Your location plays a big role is growing grass.

 

[Sire12]

Are you FROM Northern Ireland or
IN Northern Ireland?

Your location plays a big role is growing grass.

Sorry forgot to say, yes I live in northern Ireland

 

[centrarchid]

I would include a legume that does well in your area.

 

[Sire12]

I would include a legume that does well in your area.

What is that I thought that was beans, I'm planning to grow some herbs for them in the front garden like parsley and hopefully some basil, anything I try to grow in the backyard other than grass would be eaten before it was fully grown

 

[centrarchid]

I sometimes protecting clumps of vegetation from excessive grazing chickens using what amounts to a cylinder made of fencing. When you want birds to eat some you move cylinder to make so birds can access the greens. I like to do it so birds can access only a part of if at a time.

Think like you are trying to protect garden tomatoes from rabbits.

 

[aart]

Do you want grass you can mow...or grass to hold the soil?
Deep rooted 'prairie' type grasses for the later.

Are you FROM Northern Ireland or IN Northern Ireland?

<headscratcher>

Sorry forgot to say, yes I live in northern Ireland

It's usually assumed that your location is where you are.
I'm always glad to see location added - Kudos!

 

[Sire12]

Do you want grass you can mow...or grass to hold the soil?
Deep rooted 'prairie' type grasses for the later.


<headscratcher>
It's usually assumed that your location is where you are.
I'm always glad to see location added - Kudos!

Thanks I'll have a look for prairie grasses, something that I could mow would be preferable too for most of the yard but for the specific bare spots where the hens spend most of their day I need something very hard wearing that can put up with the high traffic and scratching from the hens

 

[aart]

Thanks I'll have a look for prairie grasses, something that I could mow would be preferable too for most of the yard but for the specific bare spots where the hens spend most of their day I need something very hard wearing that can put up with the high traffic and scratching from the hens

Mowable 'turf' grass that can stand up to chicken scratching is going to be hard to find.
Deep rooted grasses also grow tall, and often in clumps, not sure it would take much mowing before dying.
Might be better off accepting that they will do their excavating here and there.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I would think a mix would be best, here's an article with some suggestions:
https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/poultry/layers/good-grass-pays-dividends-free-range-hens