Boybeck Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 How much damage will three hens do to my lovely lawn? I'm curious to knwo before I get them. Gonna get some ISA Browns. I'm talking about when the hens are free ranging in the garden. I've got the eglu itself on wood chippings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 It depends upon how large the lawn is, what the weather is like and how much free ranging they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 I think it really depends on the chickens and the size of your garden. My chooks really don't do alot of damage to the grass or plants, but they do free range over a decent sized area, perhaps if the area was smaller I would notice more damage.... Some people post that they have no garden left, but mine really aren't that bad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Take alook at this thread viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28398&hilit=lawn+grass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finger lickin good Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Ours have their run end eglu on wood chips but have been free ranging on the grass for 3-4 hours a day and don't seem to have done too much damage to the grass (at weekends it is much longer) They tend to s"Ooops, word censored!"e up the moss and just peck a bit at the actual grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 when the lawn is growing, no problem. In the winter.... depends, as said above, and also on how healthy the lawn is -is it decent soil underneath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Hello Boybeck, Much the same as the others - no noticeable damage to the lawn but they do trash some plants when out ranging. I've had lots of smallish things trampled and they do like to peck at most things but no real damage as such. Lots of lovely compost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Our whole run and eglu is on the lawn, we move it every week. They appeared to have trashed where we put them in the first week we had them, (look at the pictures on the website in my signature), but it turns out it was just a very mossy part of the lawn and they had helpfully dug all the moss out for us. A quick rake and one week on it has recovered. When they free range for a few hours a day, they leave the lawn alone. They go for the areas around trees and under hedges where they can make good dustbaths. Mine have a couple of these favourite spots now and leave all the other areas alone, really don't seem bothered with my plants! Just want to roll in the dust, or in this weeks case, mud! My husband is very posessive of his lawn, and has now started picking where they move to every week depending on where has the most moss. He has turned from complaining about them to using them to help him keep his lawn in better condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I've got a large lawn as well as borders and woodchipped areas and the hens really haven't done much damage to the lawn itself by scratching or pecking. The most annoying thing they do to the lawn is scratch stones out of the border onto the lawn! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 this is coming up to the worst time of year for lawn damage (autumn/winter) If you have a small lawn and your hens free range a lot then they will damage it by scratching it up and turning it into mud. You can get around this by screening/fencing it off for the winter and allowing your hens back on it in spring. Or fence it off altogether permanently and only allow the hens their own little area. We had to returf this spring as our girls damaged the lawn last winter. Dont let it put you off chickens though, there are lots of ways around it and doesnt spoil your hen enjoyment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
