Anyone living off the land?

[newbie32]

I just barely cover carrot seed then sprinkle a light layer of compost or dried grass over that. Then mist daily till they come up. I used to live where the soil was heavy so I am just in the habit of not planting as deep as the package says.

well I keep watering them but still I have not seen anything. I am talking about ALL my plants that I planted from seed.

Anyone know how o keep my chickens away from my dwarf trees? They destroyed my banana tree and I think they are nibbling on my avocado too!!! BAD CHICKENS!

 

[chicken-lady13]

How long have your seeds been planted? Them chicken love anything green or colorful. They love lettuce and red tomatoes. If you have any old lettuce maybe you could tear it up and give it to them. Sometimes you can ask for the old vegetables at your local market or fruit and vegetable stands. I would check with family members and neighbors
to. It might help save your trees and garden. It don't hurt to ask, the worst can happen is that they might say NO ! Oh well ! In worst case senereo

 

[chicken-lady13]

Oops! U might have to put a fence around your little garden to keep the chickens out.

 

[newbie32]

How long have your seeds been planted? Them chicken love anything green or colorful. They love lettuce and red tomatoes. If you have any old lettuce maybe you could tear it up and give it to them. Sometimes you can ask for the old vegetables at your local market or fruit and vegetable stands. I would check with family members and neighbors
to. It might help save your trees and garden. It don't hurt to ask, the worst can happen is that they might say NO ! Oh well ! In worst case senereo

I planted about 10 days ago. I water lightly ever day except one. I check to see if anything is coming up but nothing!

I give them tomatoes and spinach and romaine a lot. They eat them but prefer string cheese above all else-not counting freeze dried mealworms. A fence sounds daunting but I think I will have to do it. My banana tree is absolutely ruined

. Home Depot wont honor the year guarantee if they see how bad they gobbled it. I bought a tomato plant already started but not producing yet-its potted-and my polish hen was caught with that one too. She is an instigator in my flock!

 

[JesNflock]

I planted about 10 days ago. I water lightly ever day except one. I check to see if anything is coming up but nothing!

I give them tomatoes and spinach and romaine a lot. They eat them but prefer string cheese above all else-not counting freeze dried mealworms. A fence sounds daunting but I think I will have to do it. My banana tree is absolutely ruined

. Home Depot wont honor the year guarantee if they see how bad they gobbled it. I bought a tomato plant already started but not producing yet-its potted-and my polish hen was caught with that one too. She is an instigator in my flock!

Hey newbie32, have you tried raising your own mealworms? With your warm weather they would probably grow very nicely..

 

[galanie]

Oh you for sure have to put a barrier between them and any garden you have. They won't bother a lot of ornamentals but banana leaves are used for fodder so yeah, tasty.

As for the carrot seeds, give them a little more time. You might have planted them too deep if nothing is up in 2 weeks.

 

[chicken-lady13]

Yeh ! I totally agree with Galanie. How do u raise meal worms ? Like having a night crawler worm bed ? Is that what u mean ? I would like some info on this, so I can try and raise my chickens some. Thanks !

 

[Teri Metcalf]

Oh you for sure have to put a barrier between them and any garden you have. They won't bother a lot of ornamentals but banana leaves are used for fodder so yeah, tasty.

As for the carrot seeds, give them a little more time. You might have planted them too deep if nothing is up in 2 weeks.

We had to fence in both of our vegetable garden areas to protect them. Last year the chickens were eating not only the tender sprouts, but also the spinach, cabbage and chard leaves of mature plans. This year, I have some young spinach and chard plants in big black plastic nursery tubs (that trees come in), and we've got tomato cages in the tubs to protect the plants.

On the other hand, we have a pretty good sized compost pile that the chickens love to scratch and forage in. They do a terrific job of keeping the compost well-mixed.

 

[JesNflock]

Yeh ! I totally agree with Galanie. How do u raise meal worms ? Like having a night crawler worm bed ? Is that what u mean ? I would like some info on this, so I can try and raise my chickens some. Thanks !

OMG they are SO very easy to do! There is an article under the Learning Center tab, in the housing and feeding your chickens section that tells all about how to start your own "mealworm farm". It's so cool to see them go through the different stages. I am now getting my second generation mealworms! Here is the link for the article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-raise-mealworms Good luck!



Wanted to add that I have never done night crawlers before so I couldn't compare the two...sorry

 

[chicken-lady13]

Thanks so much ! I will take a look at it. I know my chickens and my wild birds will love them. I just filled my bird feeders this morning. It is so warm out today I think the birds are confused and think it is spring. They are in and out of the bird houses and everything.