Will my chickens destroy my grass if they are in a portable run?

[thefeatherlady]

Thanks for the info. I don't have a lot of shade so I think I may have to move it at least once or twice a day to keep them in the shade. I'm wondering though about the winter time. Would I want them more in the sun for the warmth during the winter months?

 

[lazy gardener]

Depends on your winter temps. In such a small enclosure, you'll have to spend a lot of time regulating temperatures. Use of plastic is a good thing to trap solar heat, but, it can quickly turn into an oven on a bright sunny day when the temp gets up above 20 degrees outside, and it'll be harder to control your ventilation without putting the birds in a direct draft.

 

[thefeatherlady]

That being the case, because the coop is so small, I'm wondering if I should line it with the hard foam insulation? Would that regulate the temp better? I certainly don't want them to freeze. It may also keep it at a more steady temp during the summer wouldn't it? Is the hard foam safe for them or would they peck at it. I don't want them to get sick either. I just need to figure all this out before I assemble the coop, in case I have to get a bigger one.

 

[lazy gardener]

They will gleefully shred it and eat it like it's popcorn.

 

[thefeatherlady]

Okay, here is the new portable chicken run I made today. Took me nearly all day since I had no one to help me, but I did it. Hopefully I can move them around now and they won't destroy my lawn. They seem so much happier now instead of being in that tiny little dog crate. Although I transport them from their brooder to their run now in that little crate and I'm leaving it in the run so they will go in there when I put in a treat so I can shuttle them back to their brooder. The good thing is, it's lightweight and easy to move. It was pretty inexpensive and I was able to build it myself without any instructions. I just looked at the photo and the dimensions and the rest as they say, is history. Thank you all for your valuable input and for helping a newbie along the way.

 

[lazy gardener]

Very nice.

 

[thefeatherlady]

I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful questions and replies to my thread. They all helped a great deal. I did build a 4' x 5' portable run out of PVC and chicken wire. It turned out very lightweight and very easy to move around the yard. My chicks are so wonderful that I have been able to let them free range and they can use the portable run at will. They are now in their coop and come and go as they please. They usually find their way back at dusk. They love sitting on the porch with me until it's time to go in for the night. What a great sight BYC is and the members are all amazing!. Thanks again!

 

[thefeatherlady]

Tee hee.....they haven't hurt the lawn at all. I'm so happy. They do love to dig for the bugs and I give them some scratch and oatmeal while they are in the portable run. I just move them around the yard as the shade moves and no damage at all to my lawn.