Apologies if this has been extensively covered before, but I've not found any revelations with my searches.
I wish to use my flock to till in cover crops in the garden, in between garden crops. Our gardens are organized into 4x8 beds, each holding a different crop. At different times of the year, one crop finishes. Before we plant another crop, I want to cover crop that section with something that can then be tilled in by the chickens (in custom built portable garden enclosures for the birds).
So here's what I want;
* something that seeds and shoots fast - I want to turn over that garden section as fast as possible.
* something that is irresistible to the birds so that they go after it vigorously
* something that is nutritious to both soil and chickens.
* something that doesn't subsequently turn into excessive, unwanted growth elsewhere in the garden (ie, adjacent beds).
Obviously one size won't fit all - I'll need to rotate different covers at different times of year and for appropriate soil management.
What cover crops have you found to be fast growing (can rotate back into garden product relatively quickly), nutritious, and that the chickens eagerly till?
I wish to use my flock to till in cover crops in the garden, in between garden crops. Our gardens are organized into 4x8 beds, each holding a different crop. At different times of the year, one crop finishes. Before we plant another crop, I want to cover crop that section with something that can then be tilled in by the chickens (in custom built portable garden enclosures for the birds).
So here's what I want;
* something that seeds and shoots fast - I want to turn over that garden section as fast as possible.
* something that is irresistible to the birds so that they go after it vigorously
* something that is nutritious to both soil and chickens.
* something that doesn't subsequently turn into excessive, unwanted growth elsewhere in the garden (ie, adjacent beds).
Obviously one size won't fit all - I'll need to rotate different covers at different times of year and for appropriate soil management.
What cover crops have you found to be fast growing (can rotate back into garden product relatively quickly), nutritious, and that the chickens eagerly till?
