When winter passed so early here in the north the chickens were grateful, and I was happy that they could get out and dig around for early bugs, but what I wasn't banking on was the destruction they were doing to our lawn. Every time a blade of grass would try to green up it was gobbled up by the chickens, desperate for those spring greens. The yard didn't stand a chance against the league of 9 ravaging it! It had gotten to the point where we had just a barren patch of earth with dust and mud. They ate it all and what they didn't eat, they dug out! I guess that is something you have to learn the hard way. No one ever tells you about that. So, a little advice from one newb to the next, be careful about letting them onto your lawn before the lawn is established or it will be destroyed!
We have since planted seed and it is slowly coming in, but we are a long way from anything I would consider lush.
Since we have cooped them up they have begun laying again, so although they are stuck in their run all day and can't roam free, I know they are safe and we are getting eggs. In the future we will be looking to extend the run so they have a little more space. As a chicken farmer, their safety and egg production is my main priority.