[will]

im planning on fencing off 15ft X 15ft of long grass for 4 mediam size birds

they will have enough layers pellets and water

how long do you think the grass will last?

[poultrygeist]

It depends how many birds you put on it, but at a guess, about a week before it's dirt.  

You need to be careful with long grass, because they may go a bit silly and try to gobble it down in one go, blocking their crops. :?

Rob

[poultrygeist]

Welcome by the way. I was a bit hasty and didn't notice you were new to the board.

Rob

[nettynoodles1]

Hi and welcome.
 I have just housed my growers in a new ark inthe garden and am expecting the few weeds and the shrub in there to last days!!!  As said just be carefull with the long grass and make sure they have acess (sp) to grit to help them grind it up. People do get confused with grit and oystershell. Grit is used to grind food, oyster shell to add extra calcium for egg production etc. sorry if im teaching you to suck eggs there lol  :oops:

(pics will be up soon not took them yet didnt plan on moving them today) :oops:  

[will]

about one third of the run is soil with some weeds in , one third short grass and one third quite long grass

[poultrygeist]

If you can get a mower run over the long grass or strim it and they'll be fine. We did intend to section bits off so the grass could recover but they seem to need so much space that it seemed a bit cruel.  :?

Might give it a try during Spring before the days get too long.

If you can manage it, a good, deep layer of bark or softwood chippings from a diy store helps to keep the mud at bay and gives them something to dig through.
Also, if you can cover the run to keep the rain off, it won;t smell. The rain on the poo-covered soil starts to ferment after a while and smells like a stagnant pond  

Rob

[will]

so if i but wood chips on like half of it it would last @ least a few months?

[will]

what do i cover it with it woll be made of posts and chicken wire

[nettynoodles1]

hi you could use corrugated plastic sheeting a few others in here do

[poultrygeist]

Yep. Corrugated plastic.

Not sure if you're aware but if you're using chicken wire, it won't be fox proof. You'll need welded mesh, at least 19g/1mm thick to stop foxes biting through.
There's many threads on the forum from people losing chickens to foxes and it pays off to take the precautions up front.
You'd also need it to be at least 5 or 6ft high.

Rob

[Aunt Sally]

Mow the long grass Will !

[will]

so what do you think im should do

half of the run woodchips?