a chicken garden?

[midwife mama]

digitS' :

Sand Hill Preservation sells seed for chicken forage.

So does, Peaceful Valley Farm Supply . . .

Planting pasture for livestock, even annual crops for foraging, is a common practice for most livestock and can be used for any type of poultry. That is essentially what you are talking about with "a chicken garden."

Robert Plamondon has some thoughts about the amount of land for pasturing chickens that are well worth considering. However, you aren't talking about having the birds on the land all-day, everyday. A few hours before sunset, on an adequate-sized piece of ground with sufficient forage - it is a good idea. Just keep in mind that you are raising both chickens and plants and do your best for both.

. . . my 2¢

.

Steve

Steve thank you for these excellent resources! And thanks for the encouragement everyone! I see I have a lot of work cut our for me. Perhaps I won't get as much in the ground for this this year as I'd like, but it can be a work in progress. For now they can have last year's garden leftovers that are just beginning to peek out through the melting snow.​

 

[FortWorthChicks]

I built a wood frame with some 2x4's and put hard wire over it. I planted some parsley and lettuce seeds and put the water containers on it.

I figure when the plants get big enough to eat, I will move the frame and plant some more in a new place so they can eat the fresh grown stuff in their run.

 

[edselpdx]

Another thought is to give the birds access to one or two beds to let them help turn and eat unwanted insects/worms/grubs while adding their "fertilizer" and then cultivate the bed as usual. Doesn't give them year-round garden. My sense is that if they are given regular daily access to a garden you intend to harvest from, they will eat the plants (or dig up their root systems). Even if the corn's a couple of feet high, it has a pretty shallow root system.

 

[j3707]

Quote:
And I'd love to hear how it goes for you too! Sounds like an aggressive plan you have! When are you planting? We still have months to go here in Montana. Where will your chickens be in the meantime?

Well....we're having what appears to be an early Spring this year. If it holds, I may plant late April. My chickens are hanging out in the same areas I'll be planting. When planting time comes, I'll limit them to one area while the second and third areas get a good start. May end up getting a late crop of beans or something out of the first area. Playin' it by ear!

 

[Madcap621]

There is a great book, "Chicken Tractor" that sets out a plan for letting the chickens do the work of tilling and fertilizing -- essentially using raised beds, gardening half and rotating the chickens thru' the other half, alternating years. I am planning to give it a try. Sorry, author's name escapes me at the moment. Very comprehensive and well thought out plan.

 

[DaveD]

Is Ivy ok for the Chickens? I have a large area that is completed covered in Ivy as a ground cover. So we never really go there. If the birds destroy the ivy, maybe then we can put in some grass and use it - half for us and hald for the chickens. If they enjoy it and the Ivy survives, I'll not have lost anything and they'll be happy. I just don't want to try it, if it's a bad idea the girls, since the coop I'm constructing has a 60 square foot area, so they don't really have to have that other area - Only 6 chickens on order.

-David

 

[digitS']

Ivy: here's what it says in the Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System:

"English ivy (Hedera helix) is an indoor and outdoor ornamental vine. This plant contains saponins, which have caused poisoning in cattle, dogs, sheep, and humans."

There is a good deal more on that page. The plant isn't terribly toxic but . . .

Steve

 

[DaveD]

So would they not eat it and just peck the bugs under it, or do I have to keep them out of there?

-David

 

[DaveD]

Digit,

http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/e_ivy.htm said what you said but had the following in it:

...originates from Europe and in it's native habitat it is an important food source for a large number of insects and birds.

-David​

 

[packmomma]

Ok here is a picture of my garden and coop. I do have a run off the back of the coop for the chickens when I have no garden open area. The green beans and corn area has a gate to enter. The chickens stay in there all winter long and when I clean out the coop during the winter all that goes on the other part of the garden. During the year the chickens will be let into the garden as the crops get done. I am putting 4 foot vinyl lattus between the rows and zip tying it. When everything is in they are in their run and I also fence in parts of the yard with chicken wire and the t posts you can step and push in. I plant early..so this week once the wind dies down all my leafy greens will go in. They will be done by June..so the chickens will get that section Then half the next section will be done by June also. The part with radishes and turnips. By september they should be able to have the entire section there. Once the tomatoes are done I will then open that part up and finally the melons and cucumber part will be open. Then I will let them have run of the main garden this winter and I will clean their coop and put that stuff where the corn and beans are. That is my plan. AS the crops get done they will be able to eat the rest of whats there in the ground. I also grow extra of my stuff and throw it to them in their pen. HOpe that gives you an idea of what to do. Last year I made a composting area as one of my 4 sections but didnt have the green bean/corn area at all. so they just hung out in the compost area most of the summer.