Coops and gardens

[twendt]

My chickens LOVE tomatoes!! Especially mine. I live in suburbia, shhhhh, "NO CHICKENS". My hens actually live in my garden, I had to out smart the clever girls in order to have anything green! Their coop built inside the garden, raised beds with fencing around the entire bed, it does work, but you have to keep any eye on things daily or they'll get in and destroy your plants in a heart beat!!

 

[TropicalBabies]

My chickens LOVE tomatoes!! Especially mine. I live in suburbia, shhhhh, "NO CHICKENS". My hens actually live in my garden, I had to out smart the clever girls in order to have anything green! Their coop built inside the garden, raised beds with fencing around the entire bed, it does work, but you have to keep any eye on things daily or they'll get in and destroy your plants in a heart beat!!View attachment 1833595 View attachment 1833597 View attachment 1833599 View attachment 1833600

So fun! I have almost the same set up!!

Oh wait these are old photos when my chickens were young.... so cute!!...

Still so cute! Oh wait!!! Not my lettuce AGAIN!!!! I have not had tomatoes in two seasons!!!!

Making some adjustments. Giving up some garden space to expand the run and make fence higher...

Added more height to the fence and some shade cloth to help with the temptation... and deep sigh***

Yep.. we almost have the same garden set up.... :/

 

[LizzzyJo]

Mine recently made a dirt bath hole right in the middle of my potato patch. I had little half eaten potatoes everywhere

This is a problem I have as well. Dust baths in the raised beds. What cut it down was my husband turning the sprinkler in every time!

 

[twendt]

This is a problem I have as well. Dust baths in the raised beds. What cut it down was my husband turning the sprinkler in every time!

 

[twendt]

So fun! I have almost the same set up!!

Oh wait these are old photos when my chickens were young.... so cute!!...

View attachment 1834292
Still so cute! Oh wait!!! Not my lettuce AGAIN!!!! I have not had tomatoes in two seasons!!!!View attachment 1834285 View attachment 1834283 View attachment 1834289 Making some adjustments. Giving up some garden space to expand the run and make fence higher...
View attachment 1834287Added more height to the fence and some shade cloth to help with the temptation... and deep sigh***View attachment 1834293 View attachment 1834297 View attachment 1834294 Yep.. we almost have the same garden set up.... :/

LOVE IT!!! Wish I lived in Hawaii, I think my girls are some of the hardest chickens, it was -40F here last winter, I was more stressed than they were!! It's the usual HOT and HUMID summer here in Wisconsin....

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I don’t want this thread to end!

 

[HopeSprings]

Hmmm, I remember reading an article many, many years ago about slanting the fencing outward to keep deer from jumping over. The vertical was no problem, but horizontal, that was an issue for them. Something to try!

 

[Chica'sChickens]

Yes, they will. I have my gardens fenced off during the growing season and come October 1st, it's for the girls to enjoy. I give them the weeds, unwanted vegetables and other things from the gardens ... worms and snails ... and they're thrilled. The two don't mix, unless you make a CHUNNEL.

 

[TropicalBabies]

LOVE IT!!! Wish I lived in Hawaii, I think my girls are some of the hardest chickens, it was -40F here last winter, I was more stressed than they were!! It's the usual HOT and HUMID summer here in Wisconsin....

I have not had a beautiful thriving garden since I got chickens. It takes two seconds for them to destroy months of prep, growth, planning. And they are the cutest sneakiest buggers that I can't get that mad at them, it's just comedy... it is just easier for me to lose the garden battle. I do keep buttoning up the holes in their run but they find another. I have 2 Bantam-esq hens that make it over everything with two full wing clippings. Wish i would have done a completely enclosed run, even though we have no predators from above. We will see come fall (my planting season). I plan to bird net the run. Point is my beautiful H&G setting is more and ideal than a reality. It looks like a tacky mess now lol. Please send ice and garden photos!!!
The heat/humidity has become brutal here, but I could never survive your winters. The isolation and worry would be difficult. Your photos are stunning

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Funny story, when we first started keeping chickens, we already had a back yard kitchen garden. DD was in 2nd grade, the hens were laying eggs and we had some lovely lettuce in the garden. One morning, before school we discussed how tomorrow we could make a great salad for her to take for lunch that would be everything from our backyard. She was so excited. Sadly while she was at school the chickens got in the garden and ate the lettuce to the roots. She was so angry when she got home, she wanted all the chickens to go to freezer camp. She got over it rather quickly, and now probably wouldn't eat a chicken that she thought came from our flock. She sees them as pets. LOL