Tutti Frutti Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 How did you do it? We let our girls FR in the afternoons when I get home from work and all day at weekends - and we don't have a single blade of grass left in our "lawn". We're thinking of fencing it off and only letting the girls rummage in the shrubs and borders. SLIM! You have grass... I've seen it on your webcam! Or is it Astroturf??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_blackwell1 Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Can't be done. I have constructed a run that sits around the more permanent run in a corner of the garden and only allow them into that bit. The grass there is fair game (and is a bit hidden so not important really). Everywhere else is MY grass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 We still have grass ... but the hens have a 4x4m run which is bare soil now. They free range from mid morning until about an hour before dark ... but we only have 4 and a fair sized garden. We do put down piles of leaves for them to root through which distracts them from the grass. I suspect it's about size ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 We're thinking of fencing it off and only letting the girls rummage in the shrubs and borders. That's exactly what we've done . Best thing I ever did (after the walk in run ). You'll see it in my signature link (the final 3 photos show the borders & Omlet netting) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 At the moment, ours are much more interested in the borders than the lawn. They particularly like the paths and areas where there are fallen leaves, which we have left down rather than swept up as usual. They do pick the lawn a bit, but they like the paths and borders best. We've had them nearly 4 weeks and the damage is minimal so far. But only 3 chooks and quite an interesting garden so, we'll see! They are FR most days for between 2 and 6 hours, although some days we can't be around and they stay in their run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 We have a big WIR that thy are in all the time which is like a mud pit! The grass is fine though because they tend to dig up the borders and wreck fathers plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 Now I think about it, it does have its advantages... We haven't mown the lawn since the middle of August We've also put piles of leaves out for our two - but Roxy is such a digger, she rakes through to the ground and it's just become muddy in the rain ANH, was it your photo on the WIR thread with a chook reaching through the netting to eat the grass? So funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I must be very lucky!!! Saying that it grows so fast we have to mow every week! it is so thick it may be down to size of garden alst the chooks have their area buy the trees and seem to stay around there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 It's all about stocking density. If you match your chicken numbers to the space you have available AND rest the grassed areas over winter, it can be done. Victoria Roberts recommends something in the region of 80 sq feet per bird (I think, but I'd have to double check her book to be sure), though obviously that's less for bantams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 We must be fortunate as our 4 chickens free range from dawn to dusk and have improved our lawn. It is quite a large garden and has plenty of banks and border for scratching and rummaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 my 5 tend to only spend a short time on the lawn and hardly scratch on it (I'm doing more damage to it having to walk on it twice a day) but the have full access to all the back garden when they are out which is only an hour or 2 on saturdays then 5or 6 hours on sundays much of the time they spend under the fruit trees at the top of the garden or rooting around in they're cabbage patch or the slate chipping path which is much more fun for them but a pain for me as they never put the slate back on the path Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Our grassed area is better for having the hens on it. They don't scratch at it they just eat it and keep it short. They have lots of places to dig about for grubs etc: The size of the holes they dig I'm glad they don't dig them on the lawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Lawn?!?!?!? I have some vague recollections on what one of those is, isn't it that green stuff that used to sit on the mud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 hey I free range when somone is home which is basically all the time and still have lawn. It's really quite nice at the mo a tad on the muddy side but thats because kent appears to be trying to flood at the moment. I have a theory that it's because the lawn in my garden is the least interesting bit. There are two sections of flower beds we don't plant in and the rest all has tunnels round the back of the flowers they like. We also have a central bed with about waist flowers in and a bird table that they like to hang round in and finally we have a huge bed that has some ivy and roses and bushes in that they can pootle about in. There are a couple of holes in the lawn but they were there before the chickens and we've never bothered to do anything about them. The only two places they cause damage is somtimes in the herb bed thats by trampling it to death in a bid to get to the back door and the veg garden which is fenced off in the top of our garden. oh i forgot i have one spot were the lawn is a bit worse for wear which is under where the eglu was but give that a week and it'll be fine again Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Lawn?!?!?!? I have some vague recollections on what one of those is, isn't it that green stuff that used to sit on the mud Starfish and Road Runner pointing at grass for you and every one else that has forgotten what it looks like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 We have a lovely lush lawn and 13 hens, sometimes they play out all day. I do have a secret though, if you click on the web link in my signature you will see that my garden is a wee bit bigger than average. The edges and borders are virtually wild and untamed, so the girls just love playing in there, and digging around in the undergrowth. As has been said above, their effect is diluted in my garden I think, and they prefer playing in wilderness areas. The only place without grass is the WIR which is roofed and has horse bedding in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Lawn?!?!?!? I have some vague recollections on what one of those is, isn't it that green stuff that used to sit on the mud Starfish and Road Runner pointing at grass for you and every one else that has forgotten what it looks like Thats not playing nice Starfish and Road Runner, as your Wernlas cousins are some of the worst offenders in my garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahphe Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 we had a wonderful lawn before we got the girls. we also had crazy paving down the end of the garden so dug this up and put bark down instead so they have lots to dig through, they also have the borders but they insist on digging on the grass. they dont actually seem to eat it just eat whatever they find underneath it myrtle also mastered our fence so dug up the veg box not once but 4 times, we still dont know how she actually got in and out of it! we are thinking of putting u a fence around the end of the garden so they can dig through the bark during the winter and rest the grass, but given myrtles past history i dont know how effective this will be!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 ANH, was it your photo on the WIR thread with a chook reaching through the netting to eat the grass? So funny! Sure was . Here's another one. My girls aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Lawn?!?!?!? I have some vague recollections on what one of those is, isn't it that green stuff that used to sit on the mud Starfish and Road Runner pointing at grass for you and every one else that has forgotten what it looks like Thats not playing nice Starfish and Road Runner, as your Wernlas cousins are some of the worst offenders in my garden didn't say they are well behaved in the garden Starfish was the first one to pick the tomatoes Road Runner the first at the Strawberrys and Rusty sowed them all how to eat the apples and all 3 of them striped the blueberrys in no time at all and they weren't even ripe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Lovely photos girls. Through the netting is wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I have no problems with the lawn? You can see that below Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickiepiggies Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We have a lovely lush lawn and 13 hens, sometimes they play out all day. I do have a secret though, if you click on the web link in my signature you will see that my garden is a wee bit bigger than average. The edges and borders are virtually wild and untamed, so the girls just love playing in there, and digging around in the undergrowth. As has been said above, their effect is diluted in my garden I think, and they prefer playing in wilderness areas. The only place without grass is the WIR which is roofed and has horse bedding in it OMG your garden is massive i can only dream of having a garden like that for my chickies... your chickies are very lucky girlies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 We have a lovely lush lawn and 13 hens, sometimes they play out all day. I do have a secret though, if you click on the web link in my signature you will see that my garden is a wee bit bigger than average. The edges and borders are virtually wild and untamed, so the girls just love playing in there, and digging around in the undergrowth. As has been said above, their effect is diluted in my garden I think, and they prefer playing in wilderness areas. The only place without grass is the WIR which is roofed and has horse bedding in it That is truly "Hen Heaven" fabulous pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
