The chickens will graze on and fertilize all the grass under the coop. If you are letting your girls free-feed on your lawn you will still need to mow it. Be careful not to spread any fertilizers or pesticides on the grass where your chickens are grazing.
The main benefit of a grazing box is that as the herbs and greens grow through the hardware cloth, your chickens can eat them, but can’t devastate them or scratch them up by the roots. For just a few minutes of work on your part, your chickens will be rewarded with a healthy, fresh treat again and again.
Can chickens eat grass clippings?
Your backyard chickens can not only benefit from free-ranging, foraging, and eating grass, but scientific studies have shown health benefits for your chickens and their eggs from consuming grass. Grass clippings can present problems.
Foraging for green plants and insects is a natural process for chickens. It makes them mentally and physically happier and healthier. Evidence from scientific studies on chickens who eat grass has determined the increased nutrition level in the eggs over chickens in confinement that have no access to grass.
Some of the common grass types that are good for chickens are crabgrass and clover. Spring grass is the best but since that only occurs a few months out of the year, any grasses that are thriving and sprouting are good for your chickens.
Do chickens need a run in their coop?
Also try to avoid placing the chicken run in low-lying and boggy places, muddy environments can cause sickness and disease among your flock. There are a number of great benefits your flock will enjoy from the addition of a chicken run onto their coop.
Why do chickens run?
A hen runs before mating because she doesn’t want to be mated. However, roosters that are dominant don’t care what the hen wants. They will continue to chase the hen, and mate with her whether she likes it or not.
The chickens are moved temporarily to a piece of land enclosed by the tractor. When they’ve finished there, they’re simply moved to another part of the run. It gives grass time to re-grow, and can be very useful when putting chickens to work turning over a vegetable patch ready for planting.
They can get up to 9mph for short bursts, but chickens’ real advantage comes in their agility- they can turn on a six-pence. This speedy and agility really helps keep them safe from predators- or helps them avoid us when we are trying to round them up back into their coop.
Do chickens produce more eggs in a chicken run?
Studies have also shown that chickens who are able to scratch and forage outside, produce eggs that are higher in Beta Carotene, Vitamin E and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, than those who spend the majority of their time indoors. If a chicken run means more nutritious eggs and healthier hens, it should be a no brainer!