alih Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 our 2 chickens have always been able to free-range when we are out and about and have always done so without being remotely interested in our lawn, preferring the bushes and shrubs....but today they have been raking up the lawn to such an extent I am going to put them back in their run...does anyone know why this is suddenly happening after all this time? will my lawn recover - don't get me wrong, I have 4 kids and a dog as well as the chooks so am not exactly lawn proud but I would like to have grass rather than mud come the summer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I just have a mud patch where my lawn used to be I'm really hoping it makes a recovery over the summer otherwise I will have to keep my girls in a lot more. It took them 6 months to demolish it but they did it in the end.... They love scratching about and the grass just disappeared Chili xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Has it been raining today where you are? (probably a silly question!).If it has-the rain would have brought up all the worms and bugs from the soil which chooks lurve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 yes it's been chucking it down but it has been before and they haven't done any damage! Oh dear, I think we may have to start thinking about netting of part of the garden... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 hopefully now its spring and the sun is shining your lawn should recover It wont however recover in the winter (as we have found out) we have just re-turfed, so you probably will have to take measures in Autumn to protect your lawn. Fencing/screening off is a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 yes Chelsea, I am coming round to that idea - it won't be too much work but the kids say the chickens need grass when free-ranging - is this true? I know they like it but is it necessary? If so I may have to sow some grass seeds especially...for them to rake it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I dont think they nescessarily need grass, they just love it! If you think about your typical farmyard with chooks in its mostly mud/dirt and chickens love to scratch around in dirt. They turned our lawn into a farmyard! they love scratching for the bugs. You could buy them the occasional piece of turf if you feel guilty!! We had some leftover when we re-turfed and they had their own little "patch" then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 ok thanks - netting it is, with the odd treat of free-free-ranging when we are out in the summer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 oh just another thing, just make sure they have somewhere to dustbathe when you fence off their area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 I think I will fence off the large area on which their run is currerntly with an extra 4ft square behind it which has soil and a camelia bush so there will be plenty of dust bathing space for them... does that sound ok?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 yes that sounds fine, mine have a simliar area in one of my borders, its nice and shady in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 You could buy them the occasional piece of turf if you feel guilty!! lol-just as if your getting them a new rug! You could try topdressing your lawn which might help it recover quicker.Brushing a mixture of sharp sand,compost and sieved topsoil onto an establised lawn makes them grow stronger with better drainage too when spiked beforehand.All the major football clubs topdress their pitches and think about the abuse they get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi. My lot have been confined to barracks today and yesterday. It's this non stop rain that means my grass doesn't get a chance to dry out and as soon as it's waterlogged the chooks rip it to shreds. Yesterday, I knew it what would happen to the lawn but I thought the poor darlings needed some time out of the run. Well, less than 10 mins later and about 2 sq meters of lawn damage, I shut them away again. I have a dedicated area of lawn fenced off with Omlet fencing for the chooks. Never had this problem last Spring/Summer so when it warms up and grass starts to grow, my lawn will look a bit better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 You could try topdressing your lawn which might help it recover quicker.Brushing a mixture of sharp sand,compost and sieved topsoil onto an establised lawn makes them grow stronger with better drainage too when spiked beforehand.All the major football clubs topdress their pitches and think about the abuse they get! That sounds like a good idea. I may have a go at that. I think as long as they get some daily greens they don't need grass, although they did so enjoy the offcuts of turf from some of our recent garden exploits! Nothing gets wasted in this household! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...