Chickens and Mushrooms

[mimsky]

I am about to set up two mushroom gardens (white caps and shitake) and don't know if my free-range girls are going to eat all my effort. I've only had them about five months and let them roam from noon until nightfall each day. I fenced off my vegetable garden with temporary fencing, to keep them out until it is well established. (At which point I hope I'm safe taking down the fencing.) Do I need to do the same with my new mushroom beds?

 

[boskelli1571]

Absolutely! My gals took a peck at each and every oyster mushroom I grew!! Of course, they still tasted ok, but I couldn't sell them. When your veggie garden is established, just bear in mind the gals love to sample. So if you don't want holes in your tomatoes, completely destroyed cabbage/kale etc. I would keep the fence up. Last year I had a great crop of holey melons.........
BTW

 

[mimsky]

Gotta love these stinkers. The other day, I was planting ground cover between some stepping stones. I got a bunch planted and looked back to see my girls were steady "unplanting", as fast as I was planting.

 

[boskelli1571]

If only we could train them ................