Chicken Food Tower

[Phaedra Geiermann]

I've read a little bit about it, and it's definitely an interesting idea:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hügelkultur

When I make a raised garden bed I toss in whatever dead wood is handy (down at the bottom where I will never try to dig with a shovel), but I don't do great big mounds like I've seen described in various articles.

Burying a log would be a tremendous amount of work anyway+1, but maybe smaller branches/twigs could play the similar role, In a smaller setting?

I did the same thing for my raised beds - the bottom layers are those cuttings from the shrubs/hedges.

 

[Sally PB]

Burying a log would be a tremendous amount of work anyway

Oh, yes, it is. My neighbor buried chunks of logs, and she and her hubby moved a lot of dirt to do it. Hopefully it pays off!

I am thinking, though, that a 6" diameter log, standing on end in the middle of a food tower might be worthwhile...? Something a bit dry rotted (we have plenty to chose from) would soak up and hold a lot of moisture.

 

[MadGardener]

Burying a log would be a tremendous amount of work anyway.

It sure would! At my old place I built a hugelkultur berm to stop my neighbor's runoff from washing across the veggie garden. Removed sod, dug a shallow trench, piled up some smaller limbs, and replaced the soil on top with added compost. I planted herbs and greens immediately.

The first 2 years it seemed like there were voids. Greens did fine, but larger herbs like catnip suffered. After that 2 years, though, it was the best soil in my heavy clay central NC yard.

I'm now living in the Blue Ridge Mountains. DH wants to use hugelkultur to level out the garden a bit and slow water erosion. We'll have a tractor for the digging. I have high hopes, and plan to grow garlic, herbs, and flowers for the bees on the steep side. We'll have larger logs available and I expect that will help with any voids.

A small note...be mindful of the wood you use. Black walnut may interfere with seed germination. Cedar or locust would take much longer to decompose.

 

[Kennas_Kritters]

In my towers I put hay all around the sides and then add the dirt. The hay keeps the dirt from falling out and helps hold moisture in. Figured I would comment just incase anyone had trouble keeping them wet and keeping the dirt in them. ❤ works great!

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

2022.02.25 Update for the vertical planter

Besides food towers in chicken runs, I also made two vertical planters for vegetables. Unfortunately, the vegetables are fully eliminated by several hens when they escaped during autumn.

I did a funny experiment, without knowing how the final look it might become. I buried tulip bulbs inside the vertical planter (just inserted them).

Today I realized that the tulips start growing out, and it looks a bit hilarious. I guess, eventually they will grow upward, so it has a chance to become a tulip tower in April?

I don't know, but I will keep you updated.

 

[NatJ]

I did a funny experiment, without knowing how the final look it might become. I buried tulip bulbs inside the vertical planter (just inserted them).

That's not in the chicken run, is it? Tulips are toxic to most creatures, probably including chickens.

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

That's not in the chicken run, is it? Tulips are toxic to most creatures, probably including chickens.

Yes, it's not in the chicken run. Those are in my veggies patch.
Also now they have no chance to escape from their runs.

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

2022.04.14 Update for CFT No.1~4

The new growing season is ready so I did some housekeeping for tower No.1~4. After a winter, now is the time to check which plants still survive.

First, the main material I put inside is compost, it sunk a lot - tower No.3 up to 25cm. The survivors are strawberries and mints (Mints will die back but grow from the root in the spring.)

Besides, the chickens keep pecking around the tower, 10% of the content was gone. Inserting a pipe in the center might be a practical idea, as the lower part of the tower is bone-dry. The upper part is still ok, our winter is always wet.

Tower No.1 is for strawberries - they are doing well. I cleaned up the old and damaged leaves. The new leaves will grow very soon.

After housekeeping

Tower No.2 also did a good job - I harvested some very pretty lamb lettuces. They are winter hardy and have no pest issues. Besides, it's much easier to harvest them in such a comfortable height.

After harvesting lamb lettuces and housekeeping - again strawberries and mints are ready to grow again.

Tower No.4 has some different plants - lavender, lamb lettuces, self-seeded Chamomile

I have no idea why there is a glory-of-the-snow in this tower but I will remove it somewhere. Lamp lettuces are harvested, and I will plant strawberries, cornflower, and marigold this year.

Not bad!

Conclusions:
1. Strawberry and Mint are champions - they can successfully overwinter, are easy to propagate, and need very low maintenance.
2. Everything that grew on the side will be eliminated by the chickens. It will also cause the loss of compost or soil as they keep pecking.
3. The height will sink a lot - re-fill the tower after most plants die back would be necessary. It's okay to bury strawberry - they will find the way out.

I will keep updating this thread, too.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Any updates for this thread?
I was cleaning out my run of pesky rocks this afternoon and realized how sad and bare it was, but then I remembered reading about the towers from last year and I thought I might try it! I am using 1/4’ hardware cloth because that’s what’s available; I hope it works well. I haven’t added any compost or seeds to it yet but I certainly will soon

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I am going to try to do a coupe of mini towers that have a base so I can start them outside of the run and then place them in the run when there is lots rowing in it. thank you for these wonderful ideas!