4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Minnie the Moocher]

I'm going to re-turf where the ladies have wrecked the grass.

 

Has anyone done this? Can they go on it straightaway if needs must?

 

Any tips gratefully received.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Yes, about 4 weeks ago . No needs must here, I'm afraid . They've not been allowed anywhere near it .

 

Except where they can reach ...

 

 

I'm assuming it'll grow back . TBH though, my dog has caused more damage with his wee so I'm limiting his access to the back garden too . Oh, and the boys aren't allowed to play football on it either . Apart from that it's a real family garden .

 

There have been a couple of threads about re-turfed lawns recently.

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=42840&hilit=turf

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=42304&hilit=turf

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=41873&hilit=+turf

[Minnie the Moocher]

Thanks ANH.

 

I might invest in some Omlet netting and move them out for a while. I will have to construct a chickenwire tunnel to get them from their WIR to an area of lawn bypassing my new flowerbed. They'll have to have access to the WIR as my coop is a sizeable shed on staddle stones (ie non-moveable) and they will need to get back in to lay.

 

Oh, and I'll have to convince OH that spending yet more money on the girls will be a good idea!

[Jules.]

 

I will have to construct a chickenwire tunnel to get them from their WIR to an area of lawn bypassing my new flower bed

 

The things we do for our chooks!!!!

[Newmarcell]

Hi Minnie,

 

We returfed our garden early autumn last year as we relandscaped the lot! We didn't let the chickens on it for one week, but were fine thereafter. However, our hens have to stay in their run whilst we're at work, so their free-ranging time on the new grass has been limited to evenings and weekends. Our turf has grown into green, healthy grass.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Newmarcell

[Minnie the Moocher]

Thanks.

 

I was also wondering whether, once they have sampled life 'on the other side of the fence', it makes them keen to be out; I'll feel mean putting them back in 'confinement' once the grass has taken! Their WIR is sizeable, BTW.

[sandyhas3chucks]

i only did some 32/3 weeks ago. dead expensive stuff, meanyt to be drought, flood shade resistant AND heavy heavy dutry. kept them off it a week. boy does this stuff grow!

they are ok on it but got 3 piddle rings from dogs. 167 foot garden and they have to do it there! nearest the house! have heard some say they scvratch it up quickly, but this stuff roots dead fast too, it wasrootinhg as I looked at the rolls. RTF turf it is!

[Tessa the Duchess]

RTF turf it is!

 

I returfed with RTF turf last year, it is expensive but really good stuff, it has a very long root system so can withstand droughts well and is tough. The chickens are not allowed on it though because they are manic scratchers and would destroy it within a week. Like ANH I have a frings of bare earth where they poke their heads through the netting and eat what they can reach:evil:

 

Tessa

[sandyhas3chucks]

so for now I can say I have good girls they just eat the top(saves mowing) perhaps they have enough places better suited or to their liking for scratch at! cannot belive how fast the RTF grows!

[chelsea]

We returf every year. Current lawn is just like brown farmyard so we are doing it this weekend. I am going to fence off the lawn for a month or so with the Omlet netting so the girls cant get their beaks on it until it "beds in".

[Minnie the Moocher]

Our run used to look like this:

 

It goes behind the building you can see, and is a fair size for five birds, but now it's all brown.

 

The small child came free with the chicken shed