Guest Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 The girlies have destroyed our lawn over the winter, so we now literally have a mud bath for a back garden! Any tips or advice or growing a new lawn, or are we better laying turf?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Don't bother with either unless you can make a separate area for the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Don't bother with either unless you can make a separate area for the girls Depends on time, energy, area and finances, plus the above. Seeded lawns are cheaper and look better in the long run. Turfed lawns are quicker but more expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunkin Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Me too Shona! I was thinking that turf would stand up to them better and hoping that if I move the run off the grass completely it would be OK? Now they've built up their confidence they free range around the whole garden (all 25 * 30 ft of it!) so I was also hoping that next year the new grass might live??? Am I expecting too much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Ours is awful too! I really wish I'd kept up with the leaf fall, as Matilda just scratches any area with a covering to bits. And she has such an extremely powerful kick that she has sent half the flower beds onto the lawn too. I got a garden vac to try & clear it up, but too late I fear. I think all we can do now is wait till the grass starts to grow. As long as the roots are still there, there is a chance. We just need the temp to stay above 60C, at night, I believe.... Next year I definately won't give the lawn it's last autumn cut: the chooks will do that for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 We didn't have to cut the grass once after we got the girlies, and everything was fine until the winter came and the grass stopped growing! We have decided to build them a run for next winter at one end of the garden that they can stay in through-out the colder months. We still have little stubs of grass, but to be honest, we've never had the best lawn in the village! Once it gets warmer, I think we'll try some grass seed and keep the kids and chooks of it for a few weeks to give it a chance to grow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I too have a mud bath for a lawn and we have our landlady coming around and she doesnt even know we are keeping chickens!! Whoops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Hide the chickens and tell her that you've got football playing boyfriends My lawn's actually marginally better since I changed the main function of our garden from being my son & his mates private football pitch to the chickens playground And the chickens actually provide food to go in the fridge- not empty it Good luck with the landlady Angelfire. Do you think she's likely to object to chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana1 Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 If only they ate moss. Luckily our grass is not a mud bath. it is nice and short and the moss is revealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelfire Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Thanks for your reply alpefamily.Its really going to be hard to persuade my landlady when she sees the state of the lawn/mud. I really hope she doesnt object to them as there is no way they are going anywhere without us!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Complain that her garden is waterlogged and that's why its in such a state. Say that as you are such good tenants you wont ask her to reduce the rent, but ask if she would pay to have the lawn re-turfed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I like it Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I too have a mud bath for a lawn and we have our landlady coming around and she doesnt even know we are keeping chickens!! Whoops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nip out and get some spray cans of green paint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Got a friendly old fashioned green grocer with that green grass they lay the fruit and veg on. Astro turf? Don't answer the door and barricade the back gate? Do a moonlight flit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 I hoped someone may have posted not to worry with all that poo on the grass it will come back better than ever when it starts to grow again I keep telling my husband this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelfire Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Don't answer the door and barricade the back gate? I might try this option Kooringer!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Mine is only bald where i have been traipsing down to the Eglu, the rest is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piggyonemoon Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 yep, the grass is going to be a problem for me too, soon. its ok that the chickens poop where they want to, because my kids haven't played in the garden too much through the winter, but now the weather is slowly getting better, they want to go out more and more. thats great for them, but they keep walking poop into the house. they are very good really, about taking their wellies off etc, but what do i do when its really nice and they want to play on the grass and sit out there ( and i want to sunbath lying on the grass, sipping iced drinks, dreaming of val kilmer, brad pitt.... ) sorry got carried away. i dont really want to have to keep them in their run, but dont really want to fence off any more garden. its a dilema Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 i dont really want to have to keep them in their run Children or chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 yep, the grass is going to be a problem for me too, soon. its ok that the chickens poop where they want to, because my kids haven't played in the garden too much through the winter, but now the weather is slowly getting better, they want to go out more and more. thats great for them, but they keep walking poop into the house. they are very good really, about taking their wellies off etc, but what do i do when its really nice and they want to play on the grass and sit out there ( and i want to sunbath lying on the grass, sipping iced drinks, dreaming of val kilmer, brad pitt.... ) sorry got carried away. i dont really want to have to keep them in their run, but dont really want to fence off any more garden. its a dilema You have three choices - well four really - well five! 1) Scoop them up - the poo not the children 2) Hose them down to get rid of them - can apply to either or all. 3)Buy a hammock for your sunbathing 4)Get rid of the children The 5th option does not really apply - unthinkable even so won't even type it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 I got our girls at the end of last summer, and didn't really notice too much poo then, but we only had 3 hens in those days. Having said that, bantams do smaller poos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Well that's a relief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I hoped someone may have posted not to worry with all that poo on the grass it will come back better than ever when it starts to grow again I keep telling my husband this Don't worry, with all that poo on the grass it will come back better than ever! PS. Was that OK Clare? That's what I tell OH too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 My electric scarifier is virtually redundant these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...