My chicken run has no grass left in it,we are going to build another run so we can go from one to another in the summer so this won`t happen again.Now my question is what to plant for grass seed that will hold up to chickens?If we change from one run to the other we are hoping to keep grass in each run.Any ideas or has anyone tried this before?
Question about seeding run
Rotational grazing works for cows I don't know why it wouldn't for chickens. I have no idea what sort of grasses are available for your area, but the runs would have to be big enough for the grass in one to hold out until that in the other recovered. In general multiple small "pastures" work better then one or two large ones - for cows anyway.
Porkpal is right---you will need to have multiple small areas for them to de-nude.
Because, otherwise, I don't think it can be done.
I have a quarter acre of bermuda--the bane of all gardeners' existence--and my chickens have stripped every shoot. Even though right now I only have four Dutch Bantam and a Silkie cross running on it. The minute a blade shows, it is gone. They have also eaten a whole Wisteria vine (guess its not poisonous after all).
I am going to try to put a bermuda tractor over a section to let it recover.....
Hi Green: I think I remember telling you they would turn any run into mud or at least dry land...Even with my girls having three acres available to them, most of it they don't use. They like staying close to the pen area and totally denude it unless as I do I fence off the denuded area until it gets totally reestablished. They have their favorite areas and you have to create a way to keep them from it or it becomes total devastation. I don't think two runs will be enough to make a difference. If its totally denuded then it takes forever to replant and grow thick enough to sustain them. Maybe three or four good runs would work. Good luck Hay.
The rule around here for cow pastures is to let the animals only graze the grass to half its height before moving. The reason is that short grass grows short roots and short roots take longer to produce new growth.
I was asking at my feed place about grass seed and what would they suggest,and was told timothy with white and red clover thats what they use for pastures and the clover grows and matts down and has deep roots(which i know because i have it in my flower beds sometimes and its hard to get out) Thanks for all the info,really appreciate it.I may let them free range more this summer if I can keep them out of my flower beds,I have 10 acres.I would have to keep my chicken killing dog inside but hes old and I think would rather be in on his soft bed anyways.I do have fox and cyotes and hawks will have to be on the look for them all the time,but I do spend most of my time outside in the summer.I ordered 4 buff orpingtons today at the feed store will be her in May.
Porkpal, what you said makes total sense. If it's totally denuded ughhhh. Only half eaten, yes I like that idea. Hay