Yard Covering: Kids and Chickens

[TaraontheCoast]

Hello, newbie here! We are in the process of revamping our backyard (YAHOO!), and we have a 1 year old and an almost 4 year old. Kids, not chickens We're planning to get chickens in the coming months, and the yard is a bit of a blank slate. The majority of the yard covering right now is just clumpy weeds and dirt. Not ideal for kids. We're planning to turn the left 1/4 of the yard into a fenced garden, but want to place a ground covering that's suited to kids, dogs AND chickens. We will leave dirt under the chicken run area.

We're debating between actual real turf (cons are we live in CA and I don't like the idea of water a lawn, so wasteful) or a really nice artificial lawn. Other coverings (mulch, woodchips, etc) don't seem super safe/fun for kids.

Anyone have thoughts on a good ground covering? Thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

Will the dogs be using this area for their bathroom? Or do they have a different potty spot?

For the kids... I would be tempted to do a huge shaded sandbox and then that resilient outdoor rubber playground mat stuff.

I think that rubber playground mat stuff can be easily hosed down to remove any chicken poops. It would be a great safe surface under a swing set and for jumping games and whatever kids do now instead of hop scotch and jump rope.

I think most of the kinds of outdoor rubber mat is also smooth enough to be a good surface for running toy trucks.

The sandbox would be nice if it had a cover so the chickens could be kept out.

I know in all of the cute kid pictures the kids are running and playing ball etc on a deep green lawn...... but my kids always preferred the swing set, the sandbox, and dirt. You can dig in dirt.

 

[TaraontheCoast]

It's not a huge yard, and we'd like a decent sized garden. The back part of the yard is a brick patio. Yes, the dog(s) would use that as a potty spot, likely, though we'd been letting them in the front yard too. Since the yard isn't huge, no plans for a swingset at this point. Your point about the sandbox is well taken though! The sandbox at the park is definitely a favorite. But...would rubber playmat stuff be good for chickens too??

 

[TaraontheCoast]

This is the yard. There's a 8x10' concrete area not shown near the house where we just tore down a gross shed yesterday.

 

[Alaskan]

It's not a huge yard, and we'd like a decent sized garden. The back part of the yard is a brick patio. Yes, the dog(s) would use that as a potty spot, likely, though we'd been letting them in the front yard too. Since the yard isn't huge, no plans for a swingset at this point. Your point about the sandbox is well taken though! The sandbox at the park is definitely a favorite. But...would rubber playmat stuff be good for chickens too??

You need to see the choices that you have in your area for that mat stuff. Ask about toxicity and poke at the sample, see it you can pinch off bits.

If you can pinch off bits, then bad for chickens... if you can't, then great.

I would designate one spot for the dog to go... depending on your dogs... you can train them to go to one corner spot and only use that area.... and that sure would make your life easier!