Should we dig up the grass

Blossum · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:09 pm **Posts:** 2

With building our first coop for our first hens should we dig up the grass so the bottom is all just dirt or can we leave the grass and let them eat it if is is ok for them to eat it? the grass is a mix of broad leave lawn and cooch grass. We have not fertilized the grass for a long time so there should be no chemicals and we never use weed killer

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

The chooks will take care of the grass with great gusto. It won't hurt them.

4Chicks · **Joined:** Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:36 am **Posts:** 37

Yep they will eat it all and you will end up with bare dirt. I had thick kikuyu on my floor, it took them about 3 weeks to strip it

Chukar · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 9:39 am

Totally agree they will renovate the coop before you know it and it will be bare soil

Blossum · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:09 pm **Posts:** 2

Well that will make hubby and the kids happy less work. Now what about plants should we just leave them too or should they go? They are day and night bushes

LittleJohnny · **Joined:** Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:56 am **Posts:** 2

When we build ours we left the grass inside the new coop it lasted about 8 months but with all the scratching they eventually dug up the roots and that killed the grass. Still it gave them plenty to do over that time

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

Blossum, excuse my ignorance but what are day and night bushes?

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

We left the grass at the bottom of the large walk in tractor, which they munched up in no time, and now have a deep litter system on the bare earth. The soiled straw or hay goes into the compost or around the some of the bushes in our garden and even some of the neighbours take it for their own compost.

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Should we dig up the grass

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