Colorado

[Mtn Margie]

Hi Coloradans!

I just posted this on the "Managing Your Flock" forum and someone suggested I post it here, too.

Cheers!


My flock of six has had a little over a year to destroy my backyard (which wasn't in such great shape to begin with) and they've done an awesome job! I am now the scourge of the neighborhood and I'm starting to worry about what the neighbors are thinking.

I've never been much of a gardener and for good reason; I'm not very good at growing plants. Add to my personal shortcoming the fact that I live in semi-arid northern Colorado, where not much grows without extreme care and attention, and I'm in trouble. I've combed the internet and books for ideas but all I can find are ideas for lush climates like California or the Midwest (things actually grow in these places without much help); there's not enough water in the Colorado River to make those ideas work for my climate.

So, I'm wondering if there are any other CO chicken keepers out there that might have some chicken-friendly, easy-to-grow, xeric landscape ideas, or know of places to find them. I'm particularly looking for plants that will provide food, shelter/safety from predators and, most of all, keep my girls from hopping into the neighbors' yards for mini-vacations

Thanks so much, in advance, and may the grass stay greener on your side of the fence!!

Not being cruel here, just honest. Rocks grow well around this place! Chickens don't really eat pine trees.... I really think your best bet is to make them an enclosed chicken playground with rocks and tunnels and things and then grow them greens to munch on ( tossed into the playground) in the rest of your rehabilitated yard.

 

[monteverde]

Thanks, Margie. I'll keep that in mind, if all else fails. I just think there has to be a more imaginative solution than rocks.

What I'm really looking for are suggestions on shrubs, grasses and vines that would do well in the Colorado growing environment that would also be a good choice for chickens. I appreciate you trying, though.

 

[wsmith]

Thanks, Margie. I'll keep that in mind, if all else fails. I just think there has to be a more imaginative solution than rocks.

What I'm really looking for are suggestions on shrubs, grasses and vines that would do well in the Colorado growing environment that would also be a good choice for chickens. I appreciate you trying, though.

Find out what native grasses, shrubs and trees grow in your area. The problem is that things are hard to grow. I've been pretty successful in growing cactus and dust....... Occasionally a tuft of grass....Planted over 100 small native trees 6 years ago, and about 10 are still alive.

 

[Minchi]

Not his job? That's funny because our realtor made sure that our wanting chickens was ok in the houses/area we were looking at. If you need a better realtor, let me know, ours was awesome. Such a huge waste of time to look at the wrong houses.

We are stuck till some time next month for now. Thank you though.

 

[chlskt]

You know, I can hatch quail eggs, no problem, chicken eggs, no problem, but can't for the life of me, hatch serama eggs. I get them to pipping stage, and they don't externally pip. I like to use the dry method also, I've tried the high humidity but doesn't seem to work well in this altitude. I have some in now due to hatch next weekend, so we'll see, not feeling hopeful though.

Are you using an incubator or a broody hen?  Just asking because my Cochin has recently gone broody and I've given her 4 eggs (2 RIR and 2 Black Silkie) to try, so far she is sticking like glue to those eggs, I make sure she gets off the nest each day but she's doing a great job.  If she hatches and raises the chicks well, and/or if any of my Silkies go broody in the next few weeks, if you want I can try putting some Serama eggs under one of them to try hatching that way.

If in incubator, are you adding water the first 18 days?  I am trying dry hatch now because I had such poor results adding water prior to day 18.  I have seen humidity staying around 40% with no water in the reservoir.  Time will tell whether this improves hatch rate.  All are shipped eggs so far.

I put the two eggs that were in the box with my shipped Silkie hens into the incubator yesterday, collected two more today that I am holding a few days hoping to collect 8-10 for a fuller hatch, these will be my first home bred eggs to go into the incubator.  If one or more of the new hens go broody I will happily give her eggs to hatch, but right now they are still settling in.  Pics will do them no justice right now, at least some are in the midst of a molt.  Went out this morning to feed, and had to turn lights on to see what I was doing.  For the first time in many years I heard a rooster I own, crow   It was a deeply satisfying moment.

 

[jime]

Thanks, Margie. I'll keep that in mind, if all else fails. I just think there has to be a more imaginative solution than rocks.

What I'm really looking for are suggestions on shrubs, grasses and vines that would do well in the Colorado growing environment that would also be a good choice for chickens. I appreciate you trying, though.

What about confrey, that one did pretty goos last year for me, considering I goy just some baby plants when I order them.The chickens love it too, but you don't have to worry about them finished once is establish.Other option can be ornamental grasses, they grow good for me and don't need much water neither.
I am looking for cypress those grow well kind like and ever green but will be full (you cut them the shape you want) and are good to make good hide outs for the chickens.I have one that is like a bush and has purple flowers bees and butterflies love them, my chickens love to go under them as well for the shade and hide they are kind of plain looking but when they flower you ave lots or purple colour.I will try to find the name.
Other option witch I ma trying this year is buy some sod and put it down and on top make like a frame with some chicken wire that way the chickens can pick at it but not tear it up.The only thing do is you will have to take care of it like a lawn fro water. If you put some of the bushes and plants you find you can put the sod as well to fill up space and you can created a nice little garden to look at and for the chickens to enjoy.

 

[P-Funk]

Just plant jalapenos everywhere. The chooks won't touch them

 

[FrogEggs]

The guest room is ready...... Thank goodness we still had that tv box. But I am still on the lookout for an "addition", for when they outgrow this one.....

Edited to add: a friend just called to say he's on his way with more boxes. Yippee!!

 

[Pozees]

monteverde, if you want shrubs, I recommend Blue Mist Spirea. I discovered it on the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's page about their xeric garden. They planted, watered the day they planted, and never again, and it thrived and multiplied. I bought one at Spencer's, paid dearly for it, but it has totally done as advertised. Started plants are the only way to fly when you have chickens, and temp fencing around them the first month or so while they establish will help - you can even use tomato cages wrapped with netting. If you are anywhere near Colorado City/Rye, I highly recommend Perennial Favorites for plants and advice. In Pueblo, I like Fox's, and in Springs/Fountain I'd go to Spencer's. Chokecherries, although they do need some water, have also done well. For annuals I would use potted plants, either in tall planters or in planters elevated on block or something similar. You might even try some of that no-dig fencing around the plants you want to protect, if you can afford it - I want some but it isn't in the budget this year LOL.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Just plant jalapenos everywhere. The chooks won't touch them

My experience has been that whatever it is, if you water it, they will come... and dig and dig and play in the mud and one way or another, unless it is an established plant, shrub or tree, they will find a way to make it look like a herd of elephants has been there. Over the years, they are even having an impact on one of my huge pine trees with their digging and dust bathing by exposing the roots and making the tree more susceptible to the winds. It has a pretty good lean to it these days and I figure it will just be firewood here in a bit.