Single hen

[Rock N Rose]

I’ve been keeping my chooks penned in down the bottom of the garden over summer (shed to far side fence) with the thought that we would let them have free run of the whole garden in winter as we won't be using it then,

 

However as you can see in the pic this is getting a bit muddy and will only spread in the coming months.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/Gob8hite/ChicPics005.jpg

 

So do you guys think it would be ok to keep them in the eglu and run for a few days (they have an extra meter extension) and just let em out 2 - 3 days a week or should I put the pen back up from shed to side fence?

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/Gob8hite/ChicPics001.jpg

 

Its just they look so boored in the eglu run, your thought would be appreciated.

 

Ian.

 

 

edit - have removed the img tags as picture too large - Christian

[bringmesunshine]

Depending on how big your garden is, you could always get a roll of chicken wire and have the best of both worlds - rotate them around your garden so the scratched areas get a chance to recover, but your chooks have the chance to leave the run.

 

Another alternative might b to keep them in until lunchtime and let them have the afternoon in the garden - as it's winter they'll put themselves to bed nice and early when it gets dark.

 

You can keep them in as you suggested for most of the week, but I agree with you - of course they get bored in the run!

[Egluntyne]

I only let mine free range at the top of the garden, in their own area. It is completely trashed, but it has saved the lawn.

 

It depends how big your garden is, but you could confine them to a different bit each day and spread the damage.

 

It would seem a pity to prevent them from free ranging.

[Spike-J]

Out of curiosity do they have access to any flower beds?

 

I ask because mine have full run of the lawn and access to a few selected flower beds where there are no little plants too damage.

 

We've had the 2 hens since march and so far my smallish lawn is intact. It may just be too soon to see the problems winter will bring but I just wondered if it was because they can scatch away in the soil beds and therefore don't attack the grass quite as much...

 

Or maybe not, we'll see...