Working the Land
There is much to be learned from the way farmers manage their livestock pasture. This is my mini-version of the same concept in my backyard pasture. First I allowed the chickens to consume 100% of the grass, weeds and bugs in the top right corner. What is great about this approach is that the entire area was rendered weed-free and the ground aerated and fertilized. All courtesy of 3 hard-working hens. I simply added a thin layer of soil and sprinkled grass seeds on top. The grass will grow extremely well as there is no competition from weeds. The turf will be tender and delicious (from a barnyard fowl’s point of view).
The next step is to keep the hens confined to the small fenced-in grassy area at the right of the photo. Once this area has been worked down to bare earth, the portable fence will be moved over to the next small section. By the time the 3 hens have eaten their way across the yard, the first area will be ready to harvest and the cycle will begin again. It never ceases to amaze me how the chickens are perpetually working and how well they fit into a backyard setting.