Ground cover recommendations

[chickbee]

We have 8 spoiled backyard hens in our medium-sized backyard. They free range daily. Our grass/weeds have been eaten by them and all green has disappeared. Just dirt now! We are going to fence off a small area to possibly put sod down for our kids’ play area. For the surrounding areas and bulk of the yard I want to do a ground cover. We give up on grass and are open to any grass-alternatives. Even moss.
I realize they will eat most of what I put down but will maybe try to rotate them in other areas until some growth has taken place. I was thinking sedum?
1) is this safe for them. Did some research and couldn’t find much.
2) any other recommendations for low growing hardy ground cover to co-exist with snacking hens?
I am in zone 7a, Richmond Virginia

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is important to remember what creates barren area where hens exist. The main problems are compacted soil and excessive phosphorus. If you can alleviate those, more things will be able to grow. Chickens don't really like grass as much as they like to dig in the soil. That disruption and then constantly walking on the disturbed soil along with the feces creates the compaction and phosphorus that inhibits any new plant growth.
Alfalfa is hard to establish but once done, the roots go to the water table and that makes it hard to kill. Dandelions work the same way.
For summer I like to plant buckwheat. For winter, field peas. The rest of the year, radish, clover and forage type turnips work well. I continuously plant those things in rotating paddocks. Those tender forbs are sought out by chickens. Grass tends to be too fibrous for chickens.