Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[galanie]

Gypsy is right about moisture and raised beds. I have great soil but still sort of garden that way. Only my "raised beds" are bottomless and only amount to the soil being 4-6 inches higher than ground level with timbers or whatever I have to keep it there, the most important part being keeping feet out of the growing area and adding organic matter frequently. A really, really thick mulch does wonders. During the worst drought in Texas history, I was able to keep some things going in a couple raised beds with really thick mulch and laying the hose on there and letting it trickle a couple days a week. I chose not to try for a lush large garden in the drought but still had fresh India Spinach Beet leaves all summer for me and the chickens, plus some herbs.

Let me clarify that a raised bed does not have to be the equivalent of a huge pot for many plants, it can just be a spot where you've got a higher soil level that is enclosed.

Another thing to remember about thick organic mulches is to check and replenish it often in warm weather. You'd be surprised how quickly it can break down and that 4 - 6" layer you put down being only 1" high before you know it.

 

[Gerry2011]

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X2

 

[LLB66]

I have to say, that I have spent the last week reading this thread. I love all the information I have gotten. I hope it stays so I can go back and re-read those areas of interest to me. I have only had chickens for a month. The chickens are teaching me everyday. I ended up with 44 birds-at least 7 of those are Roosters,(still deciding which ones we are keeping) it was a take em all or leave it deal-From what I have gathered from numerous hours of research, I have BO's RIR, What looks like Araucauna's as well as 3 black chicken's one of which has a top hat(polish mix I think), Then 2 white hens. So all in all I have mutts. Some are young and some are old(again from many hours of research).

There are about 6-8 at least that dont leave the coop, so this morning I moved the water and food to the run. I have been letting them free range for roughly a week, they started it, every time I would open the run door, they would try to escape, so I took my chances and let them out. I also have about 8 hens that persistently perch outside even after dark, I have to physically take them off the perch and toss them in the flap. My thought on that is there isnt sufficient room for them to perch inside the coop. Until some funds become available, they will just have to make do.

Getting 20 something birds back in the run is comical. About half come running when I start shaking the coffee can, the others are oblivious and we end up chasing them around the yard, which is 5 acres.

Well thanks for listening. Hope to learn so much more.

Laura

Central Illinois- 45 min from St. Louis, MO

 

[r4eboxer]

Ah Yes soil quality! I always forget that there are many folks who are not as lucky as I am when it comes to soil quality. I am spoiled that way.

If I had clay soil like what you all mentioned I'd have to do raised beds for everything too.

I do have two raised beds made out of concrete blocks, DH had some laying around he wasn't using so we made two 6' x 10' beds out of them. I filled them with half my compost pile and they produced the best carrots I have ever grown. (due to the loose soil and the quality of the compost I'm sure) I put spinach in the other that is right outside my kitchen and behind the cellar. This year I am going to do a larger raised bed for my herbs and put carrots in the other two.

I have not come to the part about the coyotes; I've got some reading to do so I'd better get at it.

ETA: I was going to post this elsewhere but I might as well add it here. Those of you with gardens and chickens: Do you have a problem keeping your chickens out of your garden if you free range? I have a 5 ft fence around my gardens but I figure the chickens will be able to clear that even with clipped wings. I hope it is a non issue but I have been wondering if I am going to have to put up a higher fence.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

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Try this, found it on Youtube also for rain barrels & watering the garden.

 

[myfivegirls]

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I'm not an OT, but my chickens love to get into the garden, even though they have clipped wings & 4-5 ft. fence around the garden. My mistake was that I let the hens "have fun" in the garden last fall, and this fall, they rememebered! They have dug a hole under the fence, used the gates as a place to fly up onto and then into the garden. There is one section of the fence that's almost 6 ft high - right near the coop, as they somehow have found a way to get inside the garden. This fall has been a constant battle to keep them out. I didn't want them in the garden this fall, as I was adding compost, leaves, etc to the raised beds and they like to dig in it = makes a huge mess which I then have to clean up!
I think it's partially because they know that there are tons of earthworms in the garden, plus leftover "greens" for them to eat. That being said, most of the chickens stayed out of the garden, but it was mostly one or two "girls" who were determined to get into the garden. While they aren't free-ranged, their yard surrounds the garden, which gives them plenty of opportunity to find a way in.

 

[Ridgerunner]

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Like most of my answers, I'll say it depends. Are they used to going in there? How adventurous are they. How close to their range is it?

Chickens can clear a 5' fence. Whether they do or not depends on motivation. I think for most of us a 4' or 5' fence will work to keep them out of the garden, but I fully expect somebody to come on and say it does not work for them.

One trick to fences for chickens. This is more for a run to keep them in as opposed to a fence to keep them out, but something to remember. I have no idea how close your garden is to the run. Chickens like to perch. If you have a solid something on top of your fence that looks like a place to perch, a chicken might hop/fly up there just to perch. Who knows which side it might come down on? And once they find out that there is something fun to eat or scratch in, they may purposely go back. If you make the top of your fence wire instead of a rail that looks like something to perch on, it will be a lot more chicken-resistent.

Once they get out of a run, they do not know to fly back up there and hop down to get to the coop at night. I'm not saying anything about the intelligence of chickens, just that they don't process logic the way we do.

I've got three 55 gallon barrels I use for rain barrels to water my garden. They are a great help. If I get a 1/2" of rain, they are full and if I only get 1/2" of rain, I probably need to water. But the problem I had last summer was that I did not get 1/2" of rain. They are a great help and I strongly encourage you to use them, but they are no more dependable than rain. They do help you stretch a little rain.

Editted to add. I see somebody already mentioned where it does not work for them. As I said, it depends.

 

[darkmatter]

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I have my Garden fenced also to prevent the chickens getting to it during the growing season. However, the chickens are integral to Garden management. During the Fall after harvest and Winter, the chickens have access to the Garden to glean, till, and fertilize over the winter.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We have heavy clay here and I lived in Texas for several years, too. I had to get used to different gardening seasons and the hot summers that were so dry. The humidity with the heat can be horrible here, but we get so much rain that the gardens are usually lush.

Organic matter is good for clay. It breaks it up, helps with drainage when it's wet and holds more moisture when it's dry. Some sand breaks it up, too. I've had to put gardens in at several homes in my life. I usually work on one part of the garden every year, to improve the soil. Every year gets better, especially after the compost piles start to give out their goodness.

The good thing about mulch is that it helps conserve moisture and gradually adds organic material to the soil at the same time. You can't do better than that. Unless there's composted chicken manure under it.

I haven't had too much trouble with my chickens in the gardens. I think it's because they have so much space and good forage in their own areas. If there's not much in their area except grass and all the tasty food is on the other side of a fence, I think they'll be pretty motivated. Mine have lots of leaf litter along my fence lines and in the woods to forage through for insects, larvae and worms. Over time, I've planted a lot of different foods for them to forage on, like clover, alfalfa and an assortment of berries. I plant extra chard and other greens for them, plus some cherry tomatoes. If they get a lot of tasty things in their areas, they aren't as motivated to cause trouble in mine. Plus, they eat well and are healthier. They like to clean up under the bug zapper every morning, too.

 

[jvls1942]

My daughter did all of her garden in containers last summer. she raided my compost pile for the "dirt".. she had such great results that she is talking about doing even more this summer.
We do not have the hot dry problem like in Texas.. My compost pile is a continuous thing that is about 8 years old and large.. I could fill a dump truck. It is like dirt and doesn't settle much..

I have a pile of 2x10 cedar planks salvaged from a deck a guy tore down.. I am going to build a bunch of 30 inch x 40 inch and 9 inches deep,, raised beds with legs so that they will be waist high..
No crawling or bending to do the weeding.. I want to raise carrots, beets and onions in them.. i will make a few for DD so she has a nicer arrangement to work with..
since I have all sorts of birds running around the property, I will have to cover mine with some chicken proof wire..