What Is Rotational Grazing for Chickens?
Rotational grazing is a pasture management system where you move your chickens from one area to the next so they always have fresh forage and each area has time to recover. You do it with movable fencing or a chicken tractor, and it’s a good middle ground between full free-ranging and keeping your birds in a permanent run.
I’m fortunate to own a small plot of land surrounded by hundreds of acres of forest, so I can let my chickens free-range without much worry.
They make themselves at home on property other than mine, and nobody notices or complains. Sooner or later, a neighbor will put their foot down and tell me to keep my chickens on my property.
When that day comes, I’ll have to implement rotational grazing, and the good news is that it’s pretty simple.
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How Rotational Grazing Works
Rotational grazing is a pasture management method used with other livestock too, but here I’m talking about chickens. The idea is to let your chickens work one area for a while, and when they’ve worn it down or eaten what’s in it, move them to greener pastures.
This method also works well in a large yard.
They eat plants, bugs, and worms. Chickens love to scratch and peck, and that habit can quickly reduce an area to dust. Don’t get me wrong, chickens love their dust, but it doesn’t make for a very pretty yard.
Pay attention to the area your chickens are working. When it starts to look worn, pick up the fencing or move the tractor to the next spot. Fencing? Tractor? Don’t worry, I’ll explain both.
Fencing
When you set up a rotational grazing system, consider two kinds of fencing: permanent and movable.
Permanent fencing keeps your chickens out of places they’re never allowed to go, like your neighbor’s garden, or your neighbors in general. How about the road? I lost a bantam rooster to traffic last year, and I liked that little feller. It’s also helpful to permanently fence off areas around your house that neither you nor your chickens need to get to.
Movable fencing is typically an electrified, wide webbed fence attached to posts with metal rods on the bottom that you push into the lawn or field (see ad below). It keeps your chickens in a specific grazing area based on your layout plan. The fence doesn’t have to be electrified, but electricity helps keep other critters away from your chickens.
Don't let another season go by while your chickens are dinner for every predator in the area. This solar electric fence helps keep them safe and located away from your garden (and keeps them from pooping on your porch)
Regularly inspect your fences and pastures for damage and wear.
What is a Chicken Tractor?
A chicken tractor is a movable enclosure that houses and protects your chickens. It’s usually a lightweight structure made of wood or PVC pipe, with chicken wire around it to keep predators out. Because you can move it around a yard or field, your chickens get access to fresh grass while fertilizing the ground with their droppings.
You can use a tractor to overnight your chickens in the current rotation area, or to carry them out in the morning to a fenced area away from the coop.
There are different types. Some are built mainly for mobility, while others are more permanent. Keep in mind that the more equipment you put in a tractor, the heavier it is to move.
I wouldn’t use a chicken tractor to house laying hens overnight, for two reasons. First, they’re used to sleeping on their own roosts, in their own order, in a cozy, safe coop with nesting boxes, food, water, and soft bedding. Second, I believe a new sleeping arrangement would stress them and reduce their egg output.
Overnighting meat birds in a tractor is fine, though.
Setting Up Your Grazing Areas
If you don’t have much land, you’ll need to move your chickens more often than someone with acres to play with. Each grazing area should be big enough to provide the forage your chickens need.
I have lawn on all four sides of my house, so each side gives me a rotation area, and the front lawn has enough room for two.
The size of each area depends on how many chickens you have. Four square feet per bird is the bare minimum just to move around, which works out to 80 square feet for 20 chickens, but a paddock that small gets scratched down to bare dirt almost right away.
Go bigger than the minimum and move them sooner. A roll of fencing can run well over a hundred feet, so even a small flock has options.
Feed and Water
Besides foraging, your chickens should have a feeder in the pasture. If you watch your free-range chickens, you’ll notice they go back to the coop several times a day for a drink and a nibble. A rotational setup is no different.
More important is fresh water throughout the day. Water matters more than food for a chicken, just like for people, so it’s always a must, wherever they are.
Other Considerations
There are a few things in mind when you place your fencing. First, your chickens need shade. It’s easier to set up in an open area with no obstructions, but if your birds can’t escape the blazing sun, they can overheat. If you do use an open area, give them shade with tarps or some other cover.
Next, look for dangers. Are there dead branches overhead? Can your chickens duck for cover if a hawk comes by? Will they be stuck in torrential rain with hardly any cover?
Rotational grazing is an alternative to free-ranging. It may not be ideal, but it’s a lot better than upsetting your neighbors.
FAQ
What is rotational grazing for chickens?
It’s a method of moving chickens between pasture sections so they always have fresh forage, and each area has time to recover, using movable fencing or a chicken tractor.
How often should I move my chickens?
Move them when an area starts to look worn, scratched down, and picked over. Smaller areas need more frequent moves than larger ones.
Do I need a chicken tractor for rotational grazing?
No. Movable fencing works on its own. A tractor is another option, and it can double as overnight housing for meat birds.
Can I overnight laying hens in a chicken tractor?
I wouldn’t. Laying hens are used to their own coop, roosts, and nesting boxes, and the change can stress them and cut egg production.
Thanks for reading. As always, I’d appreciate a comment if the spirit moves you. Take care.
Dave
Chickenmethod.com
I have not had chickens for years, but when I did, I apparently used rotational grazing. I had about a dozen hens at any time. They were free to come and go from the house. The enclosure had wire fencing two feet below the ground and surrounding the enclosure top and bottom because of predators. The enclosure was divided into 3 areas. I unrolled a light wire fence to let the birds into an area. My reason for switching the area was to allow it to dry. I did not think about the insects, etc. in each area. Interestingly, certain hens like certain areas better than others to the point that they would not come out much if one particular area was open. Chickens are amazing creatures.
Well, Anastazja, I guess a thing isn’t a thing until it is given a name. It could be called step zoning, or consecutive grazing, or even common sense grazing, but someone somewhere decided on rotational grazing.
Yes, chickens, like so many animals, are underappreciated. They are very social with their pecking order (social hierarchy) and vocal cues. they are certainly a lot of fun to watch.
Thanks for the comment.
Dave