Knowledgebase
Keeping a lawn with Chickens #904763
Asked June 07, 2025, 11:30 AM EDT
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
How many chickens do you currently have, and how large is your lawn area (in square feet)?
How much time do the chickens spend on the lawn each day?
Have you performed a soil test in the past year? If so, what were the results for pH, nitrogen, and phosphorus?
Is the whole lawn accessible at all times?
How do you currently dilute and distribute chicken manure?
Do you compost any of the manure, or is it all left on the lawn?
Conduct a comprehensive soil test before adding amendments or new birds. Focus on pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter content. This will establish a baseline and help you make informed decisions about amendments and flock management. For lowering the pH, you can use elemental sulfur, but you would have to know the baseline for the dosage. I have attached a resource for you if you want to know more about it's uses and how it works.
Divide your lawn into at least two or three sections and rotate chickens between them every few days. This prevents overgrazing, soil compaction, and nutrient overload, allowing grass and soil to recover.
Continue daily dilution, but consider collecting some manure for composting, especially as flock size increases. Composting stabilizes nutrients and reduces the risk of nutrient overload or grass burn.
Here are a few resources for you- Raising chickens in urban environment
Poultry Resources for Small Farms