Eglu cube or go up with 2m run

[igobarefoot]

Hi

 

I've had my four hybrid girls since the end of last October and up til now they have been reasonably well behaved when free ranging and hardly scratching the lawn at all.

 

This all changed come September and they are now almost going into scratching frenzies, creating bald patches in the lawn within minutes!

 

I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a similar change in behaviour? I'm hoping its maybe because there are more grubs in the grass this time of year that they're going for and they'll calm back down again once the season has changed? Or am I kidding myself?!

 

Really didn't want to fence off the lawn as love to see them free ranging on it, chasing flies etc, but I can't quite bring myself to sacrifice it completely if the little madams aren't going to treat it with respect!!

 

Emma

[Space Chick]

I have no lawn due to my girls lack of respect, if your lawn is that important I would give them limited access, and consider netting.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's exactly what I do . I had a new lawn laid last year and refuse to lose it .

 

My girls are allowed very limited time on the grass and get shepherded back behind the netting the minute the scratching starts . I've also added some rigid plastic garden netting to the Omlet netting so they can't stretch through and eat the edges. I do feel a bit mean but I'm determined to keep this lawn.

 

As a result, my grass is intact .

 

[igobarefoot]

Just popped out to get some more of the netting I've used to protect my veggie patches and hubby is putting it up all round the lawn as I type!

 

I feel really mean too - the girls are already looking confused and hard done by - but I don't want to lose my lawn either!

 

Annoying thing is they've been good as gold for the last 11 months. I'm sure the devil gets in them once the wind starts blowing and the leaves start swirling!!

[chicken bark]

I think you've done well to keep your lawn for this long.

[sari]

I think it may be cranefly larvae in the lawn!! When I moved the run today and s"Ooops, word censored!"ed the lawn, I disturbed a few, and the girls went mad!! They look like this!! Some peolpe put stuff down to kill them, hence the decline in starlings......my starlings may die out, because the ladies scoffed all they could see!

[Plum]

I feel really mean too - the girls are already looking confused and hard done by - but I don't want to lose my lawn either!

 

Don't feel too mean because if you put them on the grass side they'll only pace the netting wanting to get back on the other side

[MadAboutChooks]

This time of year when the grass has stopped or stopping growing and it is also wet is a disaster with chickens on it for too long. I am limiting them with buckets and tubs etc over all the holes they have made so they dont make them anyworse but it is a losing battle. I think that a good idea is to let them on the borders in the winter and keep them off the grass and then rotate that in the summer!!!