Chicken garden?

[RJSchaefer]

Part of the area we have set aside for the chickens is slated to be a "garden" - or rather a place we throw some stuff to grow then let it do it's thing. I've seen it done before, but have never found out what you plant for them to eat.

Any ideas? I'm really just at a loss...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I plant alfalfa, clover, turnips, radishes, beets and oats. In cool weather I also plant field peas. In warm weather I plant buckwheat.
Those all make good pasture.

 

[RJSchaefer]

Thanks! I'm not sure how well oats will work, but those were top of my list to try (if suitable). Buckwheat might be a better choice. Good to know I've got some options.

 

[bj taylor]

I planted buckwheat too early. I learned it's pretty frost tender. the oats & field peas are fine. i'm just in experimenting phase.

 

[jlgoinggreen]

What is the best way to plant for them and then allow the chickens to access. Do you plant a garden then put wire over it so that they can only access the top, allow them complete access (or free range in garden) for a certain amount of time per day, or do you just not give them any access and bring the food to them in their run?

If you have pictures it would be great to see what or how you do it!!!

 

[thaiturkey]

All of our garden is a chicken garden. The banties grub around all day under the trees and bushes and in the grass. Thay even hop into the bushes looking for food. They also break into the veg. patch. Happy as pigs in whatsit they are.

 

[jlgoinggreen]

All of our garden is a chicken garden. The banties grub around all day under the trees and bushes and in the grass. Thay even hop into the bushes looking for food. They also break into the veg. patch. Happy as pigs in whatsit they are.

I was able to free range when we had a farm and my chickens had the whole farm as their garden, but this time we can't free range unless outside with them since we now have backyard chickens in a regular backyard with neighbors. I'd like to free range for a few hours per day, but not sure how to handle the garden access. I've also seen pics of some coops with small gardens with wire over it. Would love to learn how to do that. Anyone here have something like that?

 

[flyinchicks]

I don't have a picture but I have half of my run split off with a fence. I put in a door for me to access the area and I put a pop door for the chickens. The pop door is a clear peice of plexi glass that has a chain run to the outside of the pen. It allows me to block them out when I need to. I generally let them graze in the evenings when I get home from work. Then after they go to roost I can close the door from outside the run. Also if I have just put out seed or if greens are getting low I can close them out and let it grow up a little. I have been doing it this way for a little over a year and it works great for me.

During the winter I plant rye, oats and clover. During the summer I do whatever I can get to grow. Ususally bahalia grass or wheat. Really whatever I can get to come up mid summer in GA.

 

[nordahlbunch]

My chickens are in my garden. I have lots of raised beds with bird netting over them and it seems to work perfectly!

 

[schimbare]

Greetings,

I want to fence off half of my suburban yard for the girls. My chickies are 8 weeks old, and at this time, they could easily fly over any fence I put up. How do I keep them in the yard?

For now, they live in their run, but as they get older, I want them to free range the yard...well, half the yard.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Susan