Eco Lawn Grass Seed

[JoCin]

Has anyone planted Eco Lawn grass seed in their chicken run with any success? I have read that it is a deep root grass and that chickens may have a hard time scratching it up. Thanks!

 

[Al Gerhart]

Maybe a hardware cloth grid an inch away from the ground? The poop would likely be too much for the grass though.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Has anyone planted Eco Lawn grass seed in their chicken run with any success? I have read that it is a deep root grass and that chickens may have a hard time scratching it up. Thanks!

It is not just scratching. They will eat anything green that sprouts and may scratch up the roots and eat those too. Unless you have a fairly large run (a lot larger than most people have) it is going to be bare.

Another risk that Al mentioned is that if the poop gets too concentrated it can kill growth. The higher the chicken density the more that risk is.

Some people have had success by building beds to grow grass. Build a frame maybe 4" to 6" deep and cover it with a material the grass can grow through. You want the openings to be too small for them to get their heads through. They will eat the grass that grow though and cannot pull the plant up when it had had a chance to establish itself.

Do a search on this forum for "Grazing Beds".

 

[aart]

Has anyone planted Eco Lawn grass seed in their chicken run with any success? I have read that it is a deep root grass and that chickens may have a hard time scratching it up. Thanks!

You'd need to find out exactly which grasses this mix contains, then research them.
If they are in fact a deep rooted type, it would still likely take a year or so to become firmly established enough to hold up to chicken scratching.

 

[JoCin]

It is not just scratching. They will eat anything green that sprouts and may scratch up the roots and eat those too. Unless you have a fairly large run (a lot larger than most people have) it is going to be bare.

Another risk that Al mentioned is that if the poop gets too concentrated it can kill growth. The higher the chicken density the more that risk is.

Some people have had success by building beds to grow grass. Build a frame maybe 4" to 6" deep and cover it with a material the grass can grow through. You want the openings to be too small for them to get their heads through. They will eat the grass that grow though and cannot pull the plant up when it had had a chance to establish itself.

Do a search on this forum for "Grazing Beds".

Thanks! We do have a very large 2nd run we call 'The Pen' for our 6 hens because they cannot free range due to heavy predation. We have a a grazing box in it and will build a 2nd one this spring for them. Just wanting to give them the best life without being free range! Grass on their feet, more bugs in that grass, etc.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree it depends on the grass type. If you want something more chicken proof Kentucky bluegrass or sodding grass types is the way to go. Their roots are dense and heavily intertwined beneath the surface so they can’t get ripped out like other grasses roots and all. I plant bluegrass pretty heavily in my horse pastures so if they don’t rip out the roots I don’t think the chickens will. I have it in my lawn as well where the chickens mainly hideout and it’s very thick/lush when it’s warm out.