THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

kattcottrell · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2008, 23:52 »

Quote from: "Porffor"

mine have selected a 'digging' patch in their run.. just inside the gate! so the slab i laid to stop my feet getting muddy is covered in mud! a rethink has lead us to make the egg collecting door and opening of our sliding door on the new house available from outside their run! hindsight is a wonderful thing
Aunt Sally, love your set up looks cosy.. the feeding bowls on the eglu are cool

I agree Aunty, your set up does look lovely and neat. A question about the eglu feeders, I give my girls layers mash and as you know its blooming messy, do you think the eglu feeders would be better than the standard hopper type?

kimT · « **Reply #16 on:** June 14, 2008, 08:37 »

We give our girls mash and we use a big plastic dog bowl which they can’t tip over admittedly they do flick it out a bit but not much. We have gone through so many options of feeders this has been the best.

As for the lawn question believe me we have really struggled with ours but a friend of mine introduced me to a fertilizer which is just fantastic and we now have the greenest thickest lawn in the village and it grows like mad and the girls go on it every day for a couple of hours.

I think you do have to monitor the time they spend on it but when you get that right your lawn looks fab and your chooks are very happy too!

stamford · « **Reply #17 on:** June 14, 2008, 09:15 »

Quote from: "kimT"

We give our girls mash and we use a big plastic dog bowl which they can’t tip over admittedly they do flick it out a bit but not much. We have gone through so many options of feeders this has been the best.

As for the lawn question believe me we have really struggled with ours but a friend of mine introduced me to a fertilizer which is just fantastic and we now have the greenest thickest lawn in the village and it grows like mad and the girls go on it every day for a couple of hours.

I think you do have to monitor the time they spend on it but when you get that right your lawn looks fab and your chooks are very happy too!

Kim, you couldnt spill the beans on the fertilizer could you ?

What one is it ?

Newbie · « **Reply #18 on:** June 14, 2008, 11:30 »

I hav ehad mine for 2 weeks today and they graze like sheep!! The grass in the area where they free range is all but gone and they have taken a distinct shine to several plants, sea thrift and day lillies. Not complaining though as they ae a joy to watch and make good use of unused space under the conifer hedge where they love to take dustbaths. First egg this morning too

kimT · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2008, 19:29 »

Quote from: "stamford"

Quote from: "kimT"
We give our girls mash and we use a big plastic dog bowl which they can’t tip over admittedly they do flick it out a bit but not much. We have gone through so many options of feeders this has been the best.

As for the lawn question believe me we have really struggled with ours but a friend of mine introduced me to a fertilizer which is just fantastic and we now have the greenest thickest lawn in the village and it grows like mad and the girls go on it every day for a couple of hours.

I think you do have to monitor the time they spend on it but when you get that right your lawn looks fab and your chooks are very happy too!

Kim, you couldnt spill the beans on the fertilizer could you ? What one is it ?

No problem, it's called 20-9-9 root to fruit and comes in 15kg bags costs around £15 and worth every penny. When you apply it water it in really really well and keep your hens off it for about 10 days. It will grow like mad then cut and it will thicken and become really green. If you want any more info just ask I'm always happy to help.

Here is a pic of before the fertilizer

and one of after a couple of applications and the girls on it too.

I can't recommend this stuff enough it is fantastic.

Poolfield2 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 14, 2008, 20:15 »

That is quite remarkable, you couldn't even get turf to take off that quick!!! How big an area does a 15kg bag do? I don't suppose it happens to be organic as well :?

Lovely chooks

mtoyne · « **Reply #21 on:** June 14, 2008, 22:28 »

Hiya, ive got 6 chickens and they dont set out to destroy the grass its just that they love scratting in the mud and they kick that all over the edge of the grass, the grass under the mud dies which leaves the chickens with even more mud. they are worth the loss of grass tho.

Fifitrix · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2008, 10:51 »

Hi KimT

Was looking at the pics of your lawn and the details of the fertiliser. Can you get it anywhere or is it from a specialist place?

I think I might get me some!

blossom1044 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 16, 2008, 15:30 »

Where can you buy that stuff from my lawn is patchy after my previous birds been on it?

My lawn stood up to most of the hen sratching, but there are patches of no grass. Ours were predominately freerange, but when in pen they would scratch more.

stamford · « **Reply #24 on:** June 16, 2008, 16:42 »

Brill, thanks Kim

kimT · « **Reply #25 on:** June 16, 2008, 19:18 »

This is the link to the company I bought mine from there might be one in your area.

Good luck.

http://www.farmway.co.uk/corporate/

smiler43 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2008, 21:03 »

I agree with Aunt Sally, if you provide them with area, dustbaths etc they will use them. Below is a pic of my garden, I was very wary of them being out as we love the garden. But, up to now, 3 months in they are fiine, aren't eating much at all, they are behaving very well. I've got a dustbath in the run which they use regularly. There is lots of gravel on the right next to the garage which they love scratching around in and I just sweep it back to normal every night.

stamford · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2008, 22:00 »

Quote from: "kimT"

This is the link to the company I bought mine from there might be one in your area.

Good luck.

http://www.farmway.co.uk/corporate/

Mmmm My local is 187 Miles Away !!

But I've emailed my brother in law who runs a chain of garden centres up in the Northamptonshire to see if he can source some for me.. Fingers crossed

Fifitrix · « **Reply #28 on:** June 16, 2008, 22:49 »

Quote from: "stamford"

Quote from: "kimT"
This is the link to the company I bought mine from there might be one in your area.

Good luck.

http://www.farmway.co.uk/corporate/

Mmmm My local is 187 Miles Away !! But I've emailed my brother in law who runs a chain of garden centres up in the Northamptonshire to see if he can source some for me.. Fingers crossed

Will he deliver to Southampton??? :shock: :shock: :roll:

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THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

kattcottrell

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

kimT

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

stamford

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

Newbie

Must depend on your choocks...

kimT

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

Poolfield2

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

mtoyne

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

Fifitrix

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

blossom1044

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

stamford

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

kimT

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

smiler43

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

stamford

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

Fifitrix

THINKING OF HAVING CHOOKS - WILL THEY RUIN MY LAWN?

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