Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[ScissorChix]

Hi

After having chooks for a few months now and with the sunny weather we are having recently i have been looking out at my lawn and reminiscing about the green stuff i used to have before chooks . i am going to returf at some point after i have built WIR as the girls are freeranging mostly all day or should that be rearranging (my garden) i wondered if anyone has ever put a layer of netting over grass to prevent scratching. I have seen it done to flower beds and wondered if it would work on lawn so that everyone can enjoy it? I realise there would be issues with the mower but there may be a way round that what does everyine think?

[C&T]

I don't know about netting the whole grass, but I have laid down plastic trellis on one patch where they got a bit enthusiastic with their feet in one area, to give the roots a break and a chance to come back to life again ( ).

 

I do need to think about someting to put around a few of my new plants - they aren't eating the leaves, but are enjoying digging the roots up!

[Redwing]

I've never done it but have some thoughts

 

You can get stuff called 'grass mats' (or similar) which are waffle design mats which enable grass to grow up though - these are expensive though

 

If it was me I would probably cut the grass as short as i could, lay down some of the plastic fencing/trellis that you get on a roll then let the grass grow through it (you'll need some pegs to keep it flat initially) then once there is a decent growth cut the lawn with the mower blades set high only

[Olly]

Sounds complicated. Er - wouldn't it be easier just to keep the hens off the lawn, or off part of it, to let it regrow?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I do need to think about someting to put around a few of my new plants - they aren't eating the leaves, but are enjoying digging the roots up!

 

I've just planted two new shrubs and have put slabs round the base of both. My girls would have all the soil dug out otherwise . It looks a bit odd but I'm hoping to remove them once the plants are established (or hopefully there will be so much soil kicked onto them, they'll not be noticeable any more ).

[Forge Cottage]

Last year I bought a roll of simple chicken wire with 50mm holes from a fencing company. I cut some lengths about 2 feet high and I place rings of it, smooth edge up, around things I want left alone: Newly planted shrubs, veg beds, pretty flowers sticking out of the lawn, you name it. Just twist the ends together.

 

It works a treat for us and the naughty 's never try to break in. It mainly stands up by itself but you can push sticks through to anchor it and move it when you mow, then put it back again. You can make U shapes against fences, whatever. It does not rust for years and was not expensive. I recommend you try it. You just need some pliers to cut it.

 

This spring I have been thinking the same thing about netting over the lawn to stop the pesky scratching. Well, it is a while since you could call it a lawn... There are loads of small craters, from scratching of weak patches, to full new dust baths under construction. Or maybe we are being shelled from next door while I am out?

 

Anyway, for small areas or new patches I agree that it might work to peg down some chicken wire until absorbed into the grass and just mow as normal. If the worst happens and you lift some of your flat wire up, you can just cut and use it around something else. The best thing is that you can hardly see it in the garden, but they recognise it as a no-go area.

 

Anyone else tried it for this?

[prof]

i think netting on the lawn would work, if it was metal mesh..... i put my chucks on the front lawn to eat the dandelions (which they love ), in my dog cage (to prevent them straying into the neighbours gardens ) and because they are on a mesh base they do not damage the lawn at all

The only thing you need to do then is get lots of mesh, and grow the lawn back

My chucks free range area has small areas of green where i put down slatted fence panels (their decking ) and move them about to allow the grass to regrow

The rest of my garden has plants (wow!) and a beautiful lawn