Will my chickens tear up my backyard?

[MizzPeabodyIV]

Wasn't sure where to post this, sorry if this is the wrong spot. I purchased three baby chicks a couple of weeks ago and I'm having my doubts about keeping them due to my small backyard, very close neighbors and an HOA that probably will not allow me to keep them if they find out. I have a friend who wants them, but we've grown attached to them and I'd like to try to keep them if possible. I found a coop online that is small and attractive, and if we go ahead and keep them I'd like to let them out of the coop to free range in our small backyard most of the day. My backyard is roughly 40' x 30'. Right now when we bring the chicks outside they (about 3 weeks old now) mostly stay in the gravel perimeter (which is about 6 feet wide) and scratch around. They seem to dislike the small patch of grass and they don't seem to care for the patio either. Do you think the will behave the same way when they are full grown? I'd love if if they mostly kept to the gravel, instead of pooping all over the patio or kids playsets, but I'm not sure if that is likely to happen. Here are some photos of my backyard. Do you think three medium size chickens will tear up, or otherwise poop all over my small backyard? Also, if their coop is about 30 feet from my house, and several neighbors, how loud do you think the chickens might get? Now that it's spring there is a lot of bird noise (wild birds) and the small amount of noise the chicks makes goes unnoticed. As they get older is 30 feet just too close?

 

[yyz0yyz0]

consider it toast, if you let them out all the time that is. Not right away but if they have access 14/7 they will probably scratch it up pretty good, dig some holes, uproot some ornamentals and dig holes under others, etc etc. Obviously 3 will do less then say 12 but all the above things are just them being chickens.

IF they stay in the gravel, be prepared to be raking gravel out of your lawn all the time.

neighbors 30ft away only matters if they will be upset with you having chickens, sooner or later they will know you have chickens. Whether they will be a bother to your neighbors is all relative, some will be bothered by the slightest chicken noise while others will only be bothered if it's a rooster crowing and some wont' even be bothered by the rooster.

 

[farmer boy]

3 hens wont do much damage they will make holes and stuff so they can dust bath and they will eat the grass and bugs and yes they will poop on your lawn but its not gonna be crazy poop every where since there will only be 3 of them and once they get older they will most likely go on the grass a lot more my chicks are 4 weeks old and then 2 week old and then 2 3 week old ducklings so 6 chicks 4 weeks old they love the grass out all day long and same as the young chick and the ducklings they all love it and they sleep outside right now ...

 

[jewel1]

I have 4 hens and a yard about twice the size of yours. I let them out for about an hour a day and more on weekends.

They don't really bother me, but they are eating the grass down to the dirt in some areas, and throw my bark/mulch everywhere...they especially seem to love throwing it on the lawn. Basically, if you free-range them, say goodbye to your lawn within a year or so. With just 4 hens, the amount of poop on the lawn, patio and patio furniture is amazing...they go a lot!! (and it attracts flies in summer). They will go all over your lawn toys, patio table, etc if you let them roam in that area.

Also, I'll tell you this because no one told me....my hens are quiet 95% of the day, but when they are laying (about an hour a day each...usually late morning) they "sing the egg song" which means they get very loud with a continual baaaa-waak! noise (you can hear them a few streets away). So, it all depends on how tolerant your neghbors are. Overall, they are less noisy than a lot of dogs who bark all day....since they only make noise for about an hour. Some days though, they have eggs at different times, so the noise can go on for a few hours in a row.

Just want you to be prepared if you keep them!

 

[JanetS]

YES!!

 

[4 the Birds]

I would make a large run area for them. An area that you do not mind that goes to dirt. It will be scratched to dirt. You can let them in your backyard for short visits but if they are allowed to have full time access then your yard will have dirt patches and they will poop on your playset, table, patio, etc...

 

[Alaska Fowl INC]

YES!!

YES<<<It will never look the same...

 

[farmer boy]

people always say there will be dirt patches and there are none in my yard mine free range all day long and there are 3 ducks a female is broody on 18 eggs and then i have 25 chickens and then i have 7 chicks that live outside with 2 ducklings and then 7 chicks that live inside and then 18 more hatching and im getting 2 from my friend and my yard is not tore up my yard is still fine there are dirt spots that my chickens dust bathe on but thats under my bushes and there was already dirt there

 

[Alaska Fowl INC]

people always say there will be dirt patches and there are none in my yard mine free range all day long and there are 3 ducks a female is broody on 18 eggs and then i have 25 chickens and then i have 7 chicks that live outside with 2 ducklings and then 7 chicks that live inside and then 18 more hatching and im getting 2 from my friend and my yard is not tore up my yard is still fine there are dirt spots that my chickens dust bathe on but thats under my bushes and there was already dirt there

There is a difference between what you have and what the posted..Thats a small back yard,,It will be toast in a few months....

 

[sn0wwhite]

Would the chickens tear up the yard less if the grass was kept longer? In other words, not mowed very short?