[daisy1990]

I understood that chickens would scratch up grass.  My three girls have been in my meadow for 7 weeks and haven't scratched at all yet (they have  a dust bowl and dig around in there) I was expecting far more damage.  Do I have very considerate hens or do they start doing this at an older age (they are around 16 weeks)
Thanks Daisy

[Aunt Sally]

If they have a nice spot to dust bathe and plenty of places to forrage for tasty morcels they won't scratch up your grass.

Mine haven't in 5 years

[jhub]

I think you have very well behaved chooks, my three attacked the grass first before moving on to the rest of the garden.

[GrannieAnnie]

And if you have 3 chickens in a meadow, any grass they do scratch up or eat will re-grow before you notice its gone!  unlike my little area with a few more than 3 chickens on it!   

[Aunt Sally]

Exactly Grannie.  It's all to do with space per bird.

[sneezer]

I think mine must be plain naughty then!! I have an area of 80ft square this is divided into grass and lots of areas for dust bathing under trees and plants etc, but no if they see a tiny area of dirt in the lawn this is where they must dig and try to dust bath!! I only have three girls!We don't mind though only saying the other day what different girls they are to when they were rescued 4 months ago lovely things

[hillfooter]

Well it's inbuilt in chx they will scratch when there's no need in my experience.  If I go into their run carrying a tub which they think is food they will scratch at my boots just like they are trying to dislodge food from the ground.  It's part of them trying to encourage me to feed them.  Put corn into their feed bowl, which I use for titbits, and they will jump in and sctatch it out even when they can easily peck it from the bowl.  I just think this is what well adjusted chx do even when there's no logic or benefit that we can see.

HF

[daisy1990]

thank you all for your comments
Daisy

[themagicaltoad1]

They're just lulling you into a false sense of security

[daisy1990]

ah but I am so smitten it really doesn't matter what they do now!